Inflamed lymph nodes in a child. Modern approaches to the treatment of inflammation of the lymph nodes in children

Lymph nodes on the human body are signal beacons that notify in advance of disease-causing processes in the body.

This is especially true for children useful property because the child cannot always understand himself that he is sick and you need to turn to your parents for help or simply explain what exactly worries him.

After reading this article, you will learn about the possible causes of enlarged lymph nodes, methods of diagnosis and treatment. It also describes procedures that should never be carried out, but are often practiced by parents by mistake.

The trick of inflamed nodes in children is that it can be both a harmless trifle and a signal of serious problems organism. Each parent is required to know the nuances of symptoms in order to give the child timely adequate medical care.

The role of lymph nodes in the child's body

Lymph nodes are incorporated in our body from birth. In young children, they are usually very difficult to identify because they are small and soft. However, in some cases, the lymph nodes in children increase in size and become inflamed. This phenomenon is of great concern to parents. In this article you will find answers to the question of what to do if the child has enlarged or inflamed lymph nodes.

The body has a circulatory system and a lymphatic system. Blood, filtering in the tissues, forms a fluid, which is called lymph. It contains proteins, tissue decay products, immune cells, tumor cells.

After passing through the capillaries and small vessels, the lymph returns to the blood, but before that it is cleared of decay products and other toxic substances through peculiar filtration stations in the body, which are called lymph nodes.

If they increase, this is a signal that inflammation occurs in the body of both adults and children and treatment should be started immediately. At the same time, in order for it to pass correctly and effectively, it is necessary to identify the reasons that caused such changes.

On each part of the body there are nodes that filter the lymph that washes the corresponding part of the body, and by their increase or inflammation, one can judge what ailment could provoke changes and how to treat it.

For example, if a baby has a pathology on the neck or behind the ear, this may indicate the presence of an infection in the oropharynx, an enlarged lymph node behind the ear on the head is a symptom viral disease. If inflammation and pathology spreads throughout the body, the doctor makes a diagnosis and reveals the causes only after a detailed examination and various analyzes, and only after that prescribes treatment.

Inflammation of the lymph node in a child is called lymphadenitis by physicians. If a child has an enlarged lymph node, this means that the number harmful bacteria too big. In such a situation, white blood cells begin to be actively produced in the node and powerful reactions are launched that are aimed at destroying bacteria. At this time, parents can observe that the child's lymph nodes have become inflamed.

If a child has inflamed or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, in the groin or in any other place, it is safe to say that in children's body an infection is present.

Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck of a child

Mothers know their child's body like no one else and subconsciously "scan" it during daily care. Having found some kind of dense bump on the neck and not finding an explanation for this, it is important not to panic, but to contact the pediatrician in a timely manner.

Most often inflammation lymph nodes observed in children aged 5-7 years. This is due to the fact that their lymphatic system has not yet fully formed, and therefore barrier function not fully implemented.

As already noted, the lymph nodes are responsible for the anti-infective defense of the body. Their increase indicates a tense struggle with viruses and bacteria. Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck of a child occur for the same reasons as in an adult (infectious diseases, mechanical damage, infectious and inflammatory processes of a protracted nature).

Having found an inflamed lymph node in a baby, you can not:

• warm it up;
• feel endlessly;
• torment yourself with thoughts on this topic.

It is advisable to contact a pediatrician who can examine the child, correctly diagnose and prescribe treatment. Going to an appointment at the clinic, it will not be superfluous to prepare answers to the questions that the specialist will most likely ask you:

• Has the child recently had injuries in the area of ​​inflamed nodes?
• Was the child scratched by a cat?
• Does the growth and localization of inflammation continue?
• Is the lymph node painful?
• When was the last vaccination (possibly an allergic reaction to the vaccine)?

In children, swollen lymph nodes often occur against the background of a cold and go away on their own. However, nodes on the neck with sizes that differ from the norm do not always indicate that the baby is sick.

Lymph nodes, due to their special location, may appear somewhat enlarged due to individual characteristics child.

If they disturb the crumbs, and for a long time and for no apparent reason, it means that an inflammatory process is going on in the body. Only a doctor can determine what caused such a reaction, as well as prescribe treatment.

Thus, inflamed lymph nodes reflect the intensive work of the immune system. Symptoms of inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck cannot be ignored, but only those cases when the inflammation increases, causes discomfort and pain should cause concern. In order not to start the pathology, you should immediately consult a doctor.

No matter how simple or complex the cause of the inflammatory process would be, it can be treated only under the supervision of a specialist.

Inflammation of the nodes of the lymphatic system occurs in the presence of all kinds of pathogenic microbes in the baby's body. This is due to the fact that immune cells begin to actively fight them in order to prevent their further reproduction.

In case if pathogenic bacteria a lot, then they linger in biological filters, which are still trying to neutralize microbes. As a result, the cervical lymph nodes become inflamed and increase in size.

But nevertheless, if a child has enlarged nodes, such a phenomenon will not always indicate the presence of any pathology.

For example, in some babies, they may simply be located in a special way and therefore seem too large, and in children whose age is not yet 3 years old, the lymph nodes are always slightly enlarged, and this is due to the fact that the biological filter system is still immature, and therefore, when faced with various bacteria, even harmless ones, they become slightly inflamed.

If, when palpating, the size of the lymph node is not more than 1 cm, then this is just a slight deviation from the norm, which you should not worry about. If it increases to 1.5 cm, parents should take their baby to a specialist for examination, since such a process may be the first signal indicating the development of a disease.

But when one of the groups of cervical lymph nodes reaches 2 or more centimeters, this will indicate an obvious course of the inflammatory process. This pathological condition in medicine is called lymphadenopathy (that is, an increase in lymph nodes of various locations).

Enlargement and inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck can be unilateral and bilateral. In the first case, such a phenomenon mainly occurs against the background of the presence of a local infection in the child's body (a limited focus of the development of pathogenic microbes), and in the second - a general one.

Many factors can provoke the formation of lymphadenopathy in children, the main of which are the following:

1. Infectious diseases. The reproduction of pathogenic bacteria and viruses is accompanied by their accumulation in one node, which, in terms of its localization, is closest to the place where the infection entered the baby's body. Such diseases include rhinitis (damage to the nasal mucosa by various infectious agents), sinusitis (the appearance of inflammatory processes in the paranasal sinuses), laryngitis (inflammation vocal cords and mucous membrane of the larynx), tonsillitis (inflammation of the tonsils due to frequent tonsillitis) and others.
2. Skin injuries, such as scratches pet(cats). The fact is that a seemingly harmless scratch from the claws or an animal bite in some cases provokes an increase in lymph nodes.

   This happens as a result of the pet's saliva getting into the bloodstream of the child's body through a slight damage to his skin. It is known that in the saliva of cats there are pathogenic microbes that freely enter the human blood even through a slight injury to any area of ​​the skin.

   Therefore, in order to prevent such an effect, the parents of the baby should closely monitor his contacts with various animals.

3. Colds. In the presence of a catarrhal disease, the cervical lymph nodes also increase, and this can occur both during the development of the disease and after it. A change in their size indicates that the child's body is not able to fully resist a cold.

   These diseases include bronchitis (an inflammatory disease, affecting the bronchi), pharyngitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the pharynx) and others.

4. Mononucleosis. Pathology, initially disguised as a sore throat, that is, the child's body temperature begins to rise, breathing becomes difficult, and the submandibular lymph nodes swell greatly.

   This is followed by an enlargement of the spleen and liver. Unlike ordinary tonsillitis, with mononucleosis, peculiar mononuclear cells appear in the patient's blood, changing its composition.

In addition, the following can contribute to the occurrence of lymphadenopathy in young children:

• the presence of malignant neoplasms in the neck area;
• flow of purulent and infectious inflammation skin;
• the development of any pathological processes in the oral cavity, including caries;
• the presence of childhood diseases such as measles, scarlet fever, rubella and mumps.

In the event that inflammation of the lymph nodes occurred as a result of the development of any general disease, then a generalized form of lymphadenopathy occurs. In this regard, an increase in the size of the nodes can be observed not only in the neck area, but throughout the body.

Scientific studies of the most likely causative agents of enlarged lymph nodes

Based on the main goal of the work, 164 children (101 boys and 63 girls) aged from 6 months to 16 years were examined. The age of the children is shown in Fig. 2.
The largest number children (76.8%) with lymphadenopathy were admitted to the hospital or treated as outpatients at the age of 1-9 years. The maximum was at the age of 3-9 years.

The etiology of the disease was confirmed by a comprehensive examination of patients, which included: microbiological examination of the microflora from the oropharynx (before treatment); serological examination blood by ELISA and PCR (in the G.N. Gabrichevsky Moscow Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, NPF "Litekh" for the following diseases: chlamydia, mycoplasmosis, toxoplasmosis, herpes group viruses (I, II, IV, V, VI types). Serological examination was carried out in 164 children, microbiological examination (crops from the pharynx) - in 93 (Fig. 3, 4).

Today, knowledge of the prevailing pathogens is of fundamental importance. According to the results of the survey, 2 groups of etiologically significant pathogens were identified - herpesviruses and intracellular. In the group of herpetic Epstein-Barr viruses(61.8%) and cytomegaloviruses (54.9%); in the intracellular group - chlamydia (49.5%).

In most children, lymphadenopathy was of a mixed nature - 126 (76.8%), while monoinfection was detected in 38 (23.2%). It should be noted that with mixed variants, a combination of 2-4 pathogens was noted:

• mixed herpesvirus (EBV, CMV, herpes I, II types) - 30 (18.2%);
• mixed intracellular (chlamydia, mycoplasmosis) - 11 (6.7%);
• 2 pathogens each: herpesviruses + intracellular - 19 (11.5%);
• 3 pathogens each: herpeviruses + intracellular - 34 (20.7%);
• 4 pathogens each: herpesviruses + intracellular - 27 (16.5%).
• "Purely" bacterial lymphadenopathy was detected in only 5 (3%) people.

However, as a result comprehensive examination a combination of positive serological and microbiological markers was revealed as a result of a mixed course of the disease in 3/4 of the children. It turned out that some pathogens in the same child can simultaneously be in different forms.

Chlamydia, mycoplasma and EBV predominated in 5.8-11.6% of children in the acute form of the infectious disease. During exacerbation of the chronic course (11.6-21.5%), the same pathogens prevailed. A persistent course was found in most children, especially with CMV, EBV, and chlamydia.

Among the predominant pathogens in acute and chronic forms, intracellular pathogens - chlamydia and mycoplasmas - stand out. In persistent course, CMV and EBV predominated.

Thus, both in terms of frequency and severity of the disease, chlamydia and Epstein-Barr viruses predominate.
When determining cultures from the pharynx, the main pathogens in the majority were gram-positive cocci: streptococci, Staphylococcus aureus and Neisseria.

Given the presence of a number of pathogens, pharyngeal dysbiosis can be diagnosed in 82.8% of children. By the number of pathogens: 1 pathogen - in 17.2%, 2 pathogens - in 35.5%, 3 pathogens - in 21.5% (see Fig. 4).

It becomes obvious that due to the mixed course of a number of diseases, the anamnesis of children revealed frequent illnesses ENT organs and lungs: respiratory diseases and bronchitis - in 51 (31.0%) cases, tonsillitis, adenoiditis, otitis media - in 21 (12.8%) cases, previous pneumonia - in 5 cases (3%). Previously, 11 (6.7%) children were hospitalized.

Most children from the group with lymphadenopathy are frequently ill children. The reason for this is the unfavorable course of pregnancy in 16 (9.7%) mothers, due to the presence of various infectious diseases (CMV, chlamydia, ureaplasmosis, herpes, toxoplasmosis, rubella), diagnosed during pregnancy in 17 (10.4%), pyelonephritis - in 10 (6%), Bechterew's disease - in 1 (0.6%) and Hodgkin's disease - in one mother (0.6%).

In general, there are four main groups of children in whom the disease manifested with the following clinical symptoms:

• from respiratory disease, cough - 65 (39.6%);
• with enlarged lymph nodes - 60 (36.7%);
• from prolonged subfebrile condition - 21 (12.8%);
• with angina 18 (10.9%).

Clinical symptoms lymphadenitis are of the same type and are characterized by pain on palpation, an increase in size, and an increase in body temperature. Hyperemia of the skin over the lymph node appears later, as the process progresses and the serous transition to the destructive stage.
For the convenience of assessing the inflammatory response from the lymph nodes, we have identified three degrees of their increase:

• I degree - from 0.5 to 1.5 cm in diameter;
• II degree - from 1.5 to 2.5 cm in diameter;
• III degree- from 2.5 to 3.5 cm in diameter and more.

Lymphadenopathy is characterized, as a rule, by an increase in a number of groups of lymph nodes without signs of hyperemia of the skin above them. However, palpation often reveals not one enlarged lymph node, but several, or a conglomerate consisting of lymph nodes of different consistency and size. In this regard, the group of lymph nodes (cervical, axillary, inguinal, etc.) should be indicated.

To clarify the nature of the lesion of the lymph nodes, determine their quantitative and qualitative characteristics, it is advisable to conduct an ultrasound examination. Ultrasound examination lymph nodes allows you to clarify their size and determine the duration of the pathological process and its severity. In acute inflammation, hypoechogenicity and homogeneity of the lymph nodes are determined. Soldered lymph nodes suggest the duration of the disease for more than 2 months.

In the chronic course of the process, their echogenicity increases.
In practice, pediatricians repeatedly had to deal with the underestimation of the symptom of enlarged lymph nodes.

Unfortunately, children do not always arrive (apply) for examination in a timely manner, as a result chronic course infectious process, and often transformation into hematological malignancies.

Taking into account the increase in the number of lymphadenopathy in recent years, we conducted a survey of children who were admitted to the hospital or who applied on an outpatient basis with the main complaint of swollen lymph nodes over the period from 2004 to 2008. to determine the prevailing pathology and the choice of adequate antibiotic therapy.

The plan for examining children with lymphadenopathy (Fig. 1) must be comprehensive. You should start with an assessment of changes in the peripheral blood test: leukocytosis and a shift in the formula to the left indicate in favor of the course of the bacterial process (staphylococcal, streptococcal, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, hemophilic etiology).

The predominance of lymphomonocytes in the blood count is usually characteristic of diseases of herpetic and intracellular etiology. To clarify the etiology of the disease, a complex of serological and microbiological examinations is required, which includes the most common diseases in children.

Microbiological examination should be carried out in children with a history of frequent respiratory diseases, tonsillitis, inflammatory diseases of the oropharynx, croup, bronchitis. As a rule, with a localized process in the oropharynx, the regional group increases in the clinic cervical lymph nodes. A generalized infection is characterized by polyadenopathy.

One of the objective auxiliary methods for additional evaluation of enlarged lymph nodes is ultrasound.
With the development of a generalized reaction, it is recommended to examine the blood for sterility and conduct an ultrasound examination of the intra-abdominal lymph nodes.

In children with respiratory pathology, x-ray examination bodies chest.
If hemoblastoses are suspected, a consultation with a hematologist is necessary, which indicates the indications and the need for a puncture biopsy.

Treatment in some cases is carried out conservatively, without surgical intervention. Antibacterial agents are used as the dominant agents. medications, with sufficient efficiency and safety:

• macrolides - sumamed, azithromycin;
• aminoglycosides - gentamicin, amikacin
• aminopenicillins - amoxicillin;
• cephalosporins of the first two generations - cefazolin, ceftriaxone, cephaloridine, cefotaxime.

As a supplement, antiviral and immunomodulatory drugs are prescribed.
Treatment system this disease in a child, in the presence of significant pathologies in the oropharynx, as well as severe cervical, submandibular and other lymphadenitis, provides for the start of conservative intervention before the completion of the study of the results of analyzes and other examinations. Treatment with protected aminopenicillins or cephalosporins should be initiated almost immediately.

When the results of all microbiological studies and the establishment of the etiology of the disease are received after an appropriate amount of time, therapy with etiotropic agents (macrolides and antiviral drugs) can be continued. In mild and moderate forms, it is recommended initially to use macrolides as a treatment for this disease in children.

For the complete destruction of the causative agent of the inflammatory process, in most cases, 7 days are enough. With purulent cervical and submandibular lymphadenitis, ultrahigh-frequency therapy and electrophoresis using iodine-containing drugs are actively used. Physiotherapy treatment is prescribed only after surgical opening of the affected lymph nodes and drainage of the cavity.

Operative treatment according to statistics is used in four cases out of five if it is necessary to open an infected lymph node to drain its contents. In certain cases, an open biopsy is used (excision or removal of a lymph node).

In chronic cases, physiotherapy is often used with the application of Vishnevsky or Levomekol ointments, antihistamines, calcium gluconate, vitamins and restorative agents are prescribed.

Treatment for lymphadenitis in children preschool age often performed in a hospital. At any age, the diagnosis of "adenophlegmon" requires hospitalization of the child to open the abscess and antibiotic therapy.

Prevention and folk remedies for health promotion

It is possible to prevent the spread of infection to the lymph nodes with the timely treatment of inflammatory diseases. In case of skin injury, cuts and scratches, it is necessary to carry out antiseptic treatment and apply a bandage to prevent infection.

When a child has good immunity, the ingestion of a pathogen does not always cause a disease.
Prevention must be complemented by restorative means offered by traditional medicine.

General rules for prevention:

• full treatment of angina, laryngitis, tonsillitis;
• regular check-ups at the dentist to prevent inflammation in the oral cavity;
• compliance with personal hygiene standards;
• taking multivitamin complexes.

With a disease of the lymph nodes, it is unacceptable to do warm compresses, take a hot bath and sunbathe in the sun. Treatment with folk remedies is contraindicated when the child is in serious condition, there are signs of intoxication with fever.
The cause of lymphadenitis can be a severe, but hidden disease.

Inflammation of the lymph nodes partly helps in its detection when other signs are absent. When symptoms of the disease appear, it is imperative to contact the pediatrician and undergo all the prescribed studies.

For treatment, you can use folk recipes, but first you should still consult with your doctor. Consider a few effective and safe recipes for a child:

• Oats (one handful) are boiled in a liter of milk for 40 minutes. The resulting decoction is taken orally three times a day before meals. Until the age of seven, a quarter of a glass will be enough for children.
• Herbal decoctions: both from one ingredient and fees. Mint gives good results, it can be brewed in pure form or add when brewing tea. You can also use this collection: green and peppermint, hawthorn. All ingredients are mixed in equal proportions and poured with water in a standard proportion - a tablespoon per glass. The cooled and filtered broth is given to the child in the morning and in the evening, 50 ml each.
• Drinks with high content vitamin C (broth of wild rose, lingonberry or cranberry juice).

If you still do not want to see a doctor yet, you can use the following folk remedies to treat lymph nodes:

To do this, dilute 10 drops of it in a quarter glass of water or any juice. You need to take at least 4 times a day. If you cannot find echinacea tincture in pharmacies, you can use it in powder form (a quarter of a teaspoon 3 times a day).

Echinacea syrup. To prepare it does not have to spend a lot of time or effort, but the effect it gives is wonderful. So boil one and a half cups of water. Then add 4 tablespoons of echinacea root (dried) to it. Let it all boil over low heat for about 20 minutes.

Now remove from heat and add a quarter cup of fresh peppermint. Let stand 5 minutes. Then you need to strain everything and add honey to your liking. Adults take 1-2 tablespoons three times a day until the infection clears up. Children under three years of age should also drink a quarter of a teaspoon three times a day.

Older children should be given 1 teaspoon three times a day. If such a remedy causes pain in the stomach, treatment will have to be interrupted.

Vitamin C. It is able to increase the number of white blood cells in the blood and activate their ability to fight bacteria. Start by taking approximately 250 mg three times a day. If this amount is not enough for you, the dose can be increased to 500 mg. If it does not help, you can take 1000 mg. Sometimes, the disease is quite serious and you have to drink 2000 mg three times a day.

Green jade. This stone has a wonderful ability to cleanse the body. The stone must be selected as large as approximately your inflamed lymph node. Tie or attach stones to swollen glands and wait at least 10 minutes. You should feel a significant difference. The procedure should be repeated several times a day for as long as needed.

Source: onethree.ru; otekhelp.ru; t-pacient.ru; pervenets.com"

megan92 () 2 weeks ago

Tell me, who is struggling with pain in the joints? My knees hurt terribly ((I drink painkillers, but I understand that I am struggling with the effect, and not with the cause ...

Daria () 2 weeks ago

I struggled with my sore joints for several years until I read this article, some Chinese doctor. And for a long time I forgot about the "incurable" joints. So it goes

megan92 () 13 days ago

Daria () 12 days ago

megan92, so I wrote in my first comment) I will duplicate it just in case - link to professor's article.

Sonya 10 days ago

Isn't this a divorce? Why sell online?

Yulek26 (Tver) 10 days ago

Sonya, what country do you live in? .. They sell on the Internet, because shops and pharmacies set their margins brutal. In addition, payment is only after receipt, that is, they first looked, checked and only then paid. And now everything is sold on the Internet - from clothes to TVs and furniture.

Editorial response 10 days ago

Sonya, hello. This drug for the treatment of joints is really not sold through the pharmacy network in order to avoid inflated prices. Currently, you can only order Official website. Be healthy!

Sonya 10 days ago

Sorry, I didn't notice at first the information about the cash on delivery. Then everything is in order for sure, if the payment is upon receipt. Thank you!!

Margo (Ulyanovsk) 8 days ago

Has anyone tried traditional methods of treating joints? Grandmother does not trust pills, the poor woman suffers from pain ...

Andrew a week ago

What only folk remedies I didn't try, nothing helped...

Ekaterina a week ago

Tried to drink a decoction of bay leaf, no use, only ruined my stomach !! I no longer believe in these folk methods ...

Maria 5 days ago

Recently I watched a program on the first channel, there is also about this Federal program for the fight against diseases of the joints spoke. It is also headed by some well-known Chinese professor. They say that they have found a way to permanently cure the joints and back, and the state fully finances the treatment for each patient.

Inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck small child occurs often, because in childhood the immune system is still being formed and reacts sharply to external stimuli. Deviations do not always indicate a serious pathology.

Inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck in young children is called cervical lymphadenitis. Most often, the disease develops when harmful microbes enter the body.

Features of the inflammatory process of the cervical lymph nodes in children:

• sometimes the disease occurs against the background of infected wounds and is called "specific lymphadenitis";
• if the lymph nodes become inflamed due to tonsillitis, tuberculosis, influenza, etc., then the pathology is nonspecific;
• the disease in children is often more severe than in adults, due to an immature immune system;
• the chronic form is often exacerbated during a cold;
• the disease is often preceded by the penetration into the body of bartonella, an infectious agent, which is carried by dogs and cats (infection occurs through scratches);
• at weak immunity or improper treatment lymphadenitis can turn into purulent;
• inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck in children on the right or left is sometimes due to teething during infancy.

In children from 1 to 3 years old, formations often change with the invasion of viruses that provoke ARVI and other diseases. The cause of the anomaly may be scarlet fever, a recent vaccination.

In schoolchildren, the lymph nodes in the neck often become inflamed against the background of lacunar tonsillitis. With a change in the size of most of the formations, one can suspect histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis.

Up to 3 and up to 6-10 years, an increase in many immune links, if there are no other signs, sometimes acts as a symptom of lymphaticism.

Most often, parents do not know how to cure cervical lymphadenitis, so they turn to a doctor who collects an anamnesis and establishes the cause of the disease. About what factors provoke the inflammatory process, we will discuss below.

Origin factors

Causes of inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck in children:

In addition, inflammation of the lymph node in the neck of a small child sometimes lies in the appearance of caries, which is due to the activity of harmful bacteria. Visually enlarged lymph nodes are not always warning sign. The inflammatory process often occurs after vaccination.

There are nodules on the neck that filter the lymph. Their pathological change may be due various reasons, therefore, if the lymph nodes in a child are inflamed, you need to consult a doctor who will identify the etiology of the disease.

Which groups of formations respond to pathologies are indicated in the table:

Changes in the occipital lymph nodes indicate normal functioning immunity, reflecting the attacks of harmful microorganisms. It often occurs after respiratory diseases and resolves spontaneously within 2-3 weeks.

Bilateral inflammation often accompanies Infectious mononucleosis, toxoplasmosis, etc. dangerous infections. If the nodule is inflamed on one side, then this indicates that it works more actively than other formations.

How does it manifest

Symptoms of inflammation of the cervical lymph nodes in a child are different, but among the main signs are:

• enlargement of the lymph nodes, visible visually;
• abnormal consistency of formation (hard or soft);
• pain when probing the links of immunity;
• redness of the skin over the affected area;
• sleep disturbance, whims;
• purulent discharge from the throat (with tonsillitis and suppuration of the lymph nodes);
• pain when swallowing;
• increased body temperature, weakness, headache, etc.

If the baby is often worried about the lymph nodes, then this indicates that his body is constantly encountering diseases. A severely inflamed lymph node in the neck of a child is sometimes accompanied by suppuration. In this case, you need to urgently consult a doctor.

Diagnosis of the disease

If parents have found inflamed lymph nodes in the child's neck, then it is imperative to visit a pediatrician and pass a detailed clinical blood test, which will reveal the nature of the pathology. Based on this, treatment will be prescribed. With recurrent lymphadenitis, KLA is done 2-3 times a year, which allows you to keep the situation under control.

If the child has extensive inflammation, it may be necessary to undergo a biopsy and / or puncture of the formations, as well as general analysis urine. Depending on the nature of the pathological process, consultations of narrow specialists are indicated.

Necessary treatment

With inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck of a child, specific therapy is not required. The body will take care of the problem. If the formations on the baby's neck become inflamed as a result of bacterial activity, then the use of antibiotics is required with the simultaneous administration of drugs that normalize the intestinal microflora.

Redness of the lesions often indicates purulent process. At the same time, there are additional features: increased body temperature, deterioration of the child's well-being. Inaction is fraught with rupture of the abscess and the ingress of its contents into internal tissues organism. In this case, an operation is performed or drains are installed through which pus comes out.

If the disease proceeds without temperature, then physiotherapy procedures are carried out. The decision on the need for such treatment is made by a narrow specialist.

Used for nonspecific lymphadenitis homeopathic remedy Lymphomyosot, which contains natural herbal ingredients. According to instructions, this remedy cannot be used in children, but pediatricians, infectious disease specialists and ENT doctors often prescribe it to small patients in a special dosage.

Inflammation of the cervical lymph nodes in children can be due to harmless causes, so treatment is not always required. A sick child should adhere to bed rest, drink plenty of water and other fluids, take drugs that strengthen the immune system. You need to include in your diet fresh fruits and vegetables rich in nutrients.

With inflammation of the cervical lymph nodes in children, you can not:

Treatment with folk remedies

Treatment at home is carried out in consultation with the pediatrician. Folk methods are not suitable for all babies, since there are age restrictions. So, echinacea tincture is allowed as an immunomodulatory agent in children over 12 years old. Instead, the drug "Immunal" is usually used, which includes echinacea and vitamin C.

External use of compresses with mint leaves, dandelion leaves, pork or interior fat with boletus grass is allowed. However, the feasibility of such treatment must be discussed with the pediatrician, since the wrong approach to combating inflammation can only do harm. Alternative methods do not replace the main therapy.

Disease prevention

A child who goes to kindergarten often encounters infectious diseases that provoke inflammation of the lymph nodes. To reduce the risk of developing lymphadenitis, parents need to monitor the baby's immunity. If a child has an inflamed lymph node in the neck, it is recommended to see a doctor as soon as possible.

Have you noticed or felt rounded seals on the child's neck? Probably swollen lymph nodes. This disease is called lymphadenitis. It is considered dangerous, but childhood such inflammation occurs more often than in adults, and is not always a cause for concern. Let's consider why lymph nodes increase in children, what you need to pay attention to and how to properly treat this pathology.

Inflammation of the cervical lymph nodes The role of the cervical lymph nodes in the body

Lymph node - an element of the lymphatic system, which is a pinkish-gray formation of a bean-shaped or round shape size from 0.5 mm to 2 cm. It transports lymph - a colorless liquid involved in metabolism, serving as a filter for cleaning tissues and cells and moving lymphocytes and phagocytes during infectious diseases. Lymph nodes permeate the entire body - from the popliteal regions to the head. The following groups are located in the neck area:

• submandibular, located on the right and left under the jaw;
• chin;
• anterior and posterior cervical;
• anterior and posterior ear;
• occipital;
• pharyngeal;
• subclavian and supraclavicular.

The cervical lymph nodes are responsible for fighting diseases of the upper respiratory tract (otitis media, sinusitis, tonsillitis, sinusitis, SARS, influenza) and infections of the teeth and oral cavity (stomatitis, gingivitis, caries, pulpitis).

Causes of enlarged lymph nodes in the neck in a child

Lymph nodes are closely related to the human immune system. If they increased, this indicates the development of pathology in the body. When an infection signal is received, a large number of lymphocytes and phagocytes begin to be produced. They move to the lymph node, which causes it to enlarge. Causes cervical lymphadenitis:

• Teething in infants. It is not easy for the child's body during this period, the nodules work hard together with the immune system. There is no reason to panic, over time they will return to normal.
• Previous occurrence of infected wounds, abscesses or boils. When located in the neck area, they can seriously affect the functioning of the lymphatic system. If the immune system is strong, the body will cope on its own, otherwise, without therapy, pus begins to accumulate in the nodes, spreading along with the lymph throughout the body. This complication requires urgent medical attention.
• Pathogenic microbes that live in the pharynx. At the same time, the pharyngeal nodes become inflamed. They are located at the junction auricle and lower jaw.
• Face and mouth infections, atypical mycobacteria. Most often they cause inflammation of the nodes under the jaw on one side - left or right.
• Inflammation of the larynx respiratory tract, skin infectious diseases. Their sign is enlarged nodules on the sides or in the back of the neck.
• Colds ( adenovirus infection, influenza, SARS) provoke an increase in the occipital nodes. This type of lymphadenitis is a sign of good immune function. As a rule, it passes within 3 weeks, so it does not need treatment.

There are many reasons for inflammation of the lymph nodes, so their increase during a cold is a sign of the "work" of the immune system

• Mononucleosis, secondary syphilis, toxoplasmosis, and other acute viral infectious diseases cause bilateral inflammation of the supraclavicular lymph nodes. If you find this in your child, it is alarm signal requiring immediate medical attention.
• Felinosis, or cat scratch disease. Often seen in cat and dog owners. The causative agent is the bacterium Bartonella. It enters the bloodstream through the scratches left by the animal's claws. The wound does not heal for a long time, and redness forms around it. The disease is not dangerous and often goes away on its own, without treatment.

If the lymph node is enlarged from birth, and there are no complaints, then you should not worry. This symptom disappears in 1-2 years.

Associated symptoms of inflammation of the lymph nodes

Lymphadenitis in children can develop in acute or chronic form. In addition to enlarged lymph nodes, which are well felt when touched, the child may experience the following symptoms:

1. Acute form - characteristic serious condition patient. The inflamed lymph node is clearly visible. There is a strong fever, sometimes fever, it becomes difficult to move the head, the enlarged node hurts when touched. Nausea and vomiting are possible. If suppuration occurs, the focus turns red, loses mobility and softens in the center. After a while, the pus breaks and flows out.
2. Chronic form - associated symptoms are less pronounced. When you touch a swollen lymph node, pain is not felt. The child experiences apathy, lethargy, lack of appetite, restless sleep. The temperature rises, sometimes there is a headache. If the nodes are inflamed in the submandibular group, there may be pain in the ears, redness of the oral mucosa.

Purulent submandibular lymphadenitis in a childDiagnostic methods

If you find that your child has swollen lymph nodes, contact your doctor for advice as soon as possible. To identify the cause of the symptom, the therapist uses the following diagnostic methods:

• asks parents about past illnesses - how they proceeded, how they were treated;
• examines the child, probes his lymph nodes, fixes their size and hardness, which helps to develop a plan for further action;
• appoints the necessary tests;
• gives direction to computed tomography, ultrasound or x-ray;
• if it was not possible to establish an accurate diagnosis using the above methods, a biopsy is prescribed, during which samples of the tissue of the lymph node are taken for analysis.

Based on the results of the diagnosis, a referral is given to one of the narrow specialists: a hematologist, phthisiatrician, oncologist, surgeon, ENT doctor or dentist. Based on the data obtained, appropriate treatment will be prescribed.

Features of treatment

Most often, inflammation of the lymph nodes in children is a symptom accompanying the underlying disease, so the infection that caused it should be treated. When the underlying disease is cured, lymphadenitis in most cases resolves on its own.

The doctor prescribes node therapy if recovery has not occurred. The main methods are UHF-therapy, taking medications (including antibiotics), surgical intervention.

Antibiotics and other medications

Drug therapy is carried out for at least 14 days:

• The doctor prescribes antibiotics of the tetracycline group, such as Ceftriaxone, Amoxiclav, Oracillin, Ampicillin, Flemoxin and Amoxicillin. These drugs are sold by prescription. They have proven to be effective remedies for lymphadenitis.
• Auxiliary drugs are prescribed depending on the patient's condition, they are designed to enhance the effect of taking the main drug. These can be means to improve immunity, for example, Interferon, Eleutherococcus, Arbidol, tincture of ginseng or echinacea, Immunal, Amiksin and Viferon. They complement perfectly vitamin complexes With great content vitamin C.
• To reduce the risk of allergies, Tavegil, Cetrin, Diazolin, Suprastin or Cetirizine are used.
• Sometimes the patient is given antifungal drugs– Ketoconazole, Clotrimazole or Diflucan.

For the treatment of children under 12 years of age, drugs are most often used in the form of a suspensionUHF therapy

Ultrahigh frequency therapy refers to physiotherapeutic methods of treatment. Principle of action: the patient's body is affected magnetic field high frequency with a wavelength of 1 to 10 meters. The procedure gives a thermal effect, the vessels expand and leukocytes begin to actively migrate to the enlarged lymph nodes. The local anti-infective immunity of tissues is strengthened, and inflammation passes much faster.

UHF therapy is prescribed for the acute form of the disease during the period of weakening accompanying symptoms. Contraindications - specific tuberculous lymphadenitis, febrile conditions, muscle pain, rapid heartbeat, suspicion of oncology. It is not recommended to use the method if there is benign tumors, hyperthyroidism.

Surgical intervention

This type of treatment is resorted to in cases where medications and physiotherapy have not helped, and purulent complications- abscess or adenophlegmon.

The operation is performed under anesthesia - a purulent focus is opened, the degree of damage to the tissues surrounding the lymph node is determined, their destroyed parts and accumulated pus are removed. Then the affected area is washed with an antiseptic and sutured.

A special tube (drainage) is inserted into the resulting cavity. Through it there is an outflow of residual pus. If necessary, an antiseptic solution is subsequently injected into it.

Folk remedies

In cases where the lymph nodes are swollen due to a bacterial infection, such as a cold or flu, then the use of funds traditional medicine(compresses and decoctions) as a treatment is quite effective. Remember that self-medication at home can be harmful, so be sure to consult with your doctor first. Some recipes:

1. Purchase dried echinacea and peppermint from the drugstore. Boil 1.5 cups of water, add 4 tbsp. spoons of echinacea and continue to boil for 20 minutes. Remove from heat, pour a quarter cup of mint into the broth and let it brew for 5 minutes. Strain, add honey to taste. For children under 3, give ¼ tsp. 3 times a day, older kids - 1 tsp.
2. To prepare a herbal compress, take 1 tsp. chopped walnut, mistletoe, St. John's wort and yarrow, fill them with a glass of cold water and put on the stove. When the broth boils, reduce the heat and boil it for 5 minutes, then let it cool. The compress should be done before going to bed. The duration of therapy is up to 3 weeks.
3. For gargling, take 1 tbsp. l. dried chamomile flowers, add to a small saucepan with 200 ml of hot water, put on a slow fire and bring to a boil. Let the resulting broth cool and infuse. On the first day, rinsing should be done every hour, from the second day - every 3 hours.

A decoction of dried chamomile flowers is used if the enlargement of the lymph nodes is caused by a cold. Possible complications of cervical lymphadenitis

Lymphadenitis can cause the following complications:

• further weakening of the body and the development of fever, septicemia (if the pathology is not treated for a long time);
• purulent inflammation (adenophlegmon), spreading to the surrounding skin and muscles;
• the spread of a tumor that has arisen around the lymph nodes to the face and neck from behind;
• a sharp increase in lymph nodes, the appearance of intense heat;
• an increase in the content of neutrophilic granulocytes in the blood, causing neutrophilia.

Disease prevention

Constantly monitor the health of the child, visit the therapist, dentist and otolaryngologist for prevention. If the doctor recommends a detailed diagnosis, you should not shy away from it. A good preventive measure is the sanitation of the oral cavity. Avoid drafts and hypothermia - the main causes of colds.

Strengthen your baby's immunity. Provide him with a nutritious diet, including plenty of vegetables and fruits. Walk with him every day for at least 2 hours, do hardening and physical education. Observe personal hygiene, make sure that the infection does not get into the wounds. These measures will reduce the risk of diseases that provoke lymphadenitis.

On the child's neck, rounded seals appeared, which are easily determined by touch, and sometimes visible visually. Parents, as usual, immediately panic, because everyone knows from the school biology lessons that they don’t joke with the lymph nodes. However, enlarged cervical nodules in childhood are more common than in adults, and are not always a reason for parental worries and worries. Famous pediatrician and author of adult books children's health Evgeny Komarovsky tells what enlarged nodes on the neck can say, how caring and loving parents should treat this.

About the problem

In medicine, this unpleasant phenomenon there is a very specific name - cervical lymphadenitis. It is generally accepted that the lymph nodes increase in response to the penetration of pathogens (viruses or bacteria) into the lymphatic system.

• Sometimes the disease is independent, but it is usually preceded by infected wounds, abscesses, boils. This disease is called specific.
• Quite often, cervical lymphadenitis is not an independent disease, but one of the accompanying symptoms of some infectious and other diseases. Their list is incredibly long - from tonsillitis and influenza to tuberculosis and oncological problems. This disease is called nonspecific.

Lymph nodes are an integral part of the body's defense system - the immune system. There is nothing surprising in the fact that small nodules react to any pathological process in the body as part of the vanguard of immunity - one of the first. This is especially true for children, whose immune system as a whole is not mature, perfect and strong. It is for this quite physiologically explainable reason that lymphadenitis in children is much more difficult than in adults.

Symptoms are fairly easy to recognize at home, without any prior medical training. The child has an increase in the submandibular cervical nodes, as well as nodes located between the lower jaw and ear, occipital. The increase can be both significant and small, barely perceptible to the touch.

In some cases, the child's body temperature rises, appetite disappears, pronounced lethargy is observed. On palpation, he feels tangible discomfort (and even pain).

Acute lymphadenitis with severely reduced immunity and improper treatment in children can turn into purulent. Chronic lymphadenitis is almost never purulent. We can talk about the chronic form of the disease if the child's cervical lymph nodes increase with each cold.

Often, a child's lymph nodes can become inflamed in response to a special infection, Bartonella, entering the body. Its carriers are dogs and cats. It is clear that Bartonella enters the bloodstream with cat scratches on the skin, which is why this disease is called cat scratch disease.

Often you can notice enlarged lymph nodes in the baby during teething. This is due to the increased work of nodules as part of the entire immune system at this difficult time for the child.

About cervical lymphadenitis

With complaints about enlarged lymph nodes in the neck of a child, parents often turn to a well-known pediatrician. Before answering the question of how to treat this unpleasant ailment, Evgeny Olegovich advises to carefully understand the possible true reasons nodule enlargement. Determining this is not as difficult as it seems. It all depends on the location of the enlarged node:

1. According to the pediatrician, an increase in the so-called retropharyngeal nodes(located at the junction of the lower jaw and the edge of the auricle) is most often caused by pathogenic microbes that live in the pharynx.
2. If the lymph nodes are swollen under the lower jaw most likely due to infections of the mouth and face. If there is no inflammation in these places, then Komarovsky advises considering the option of infection with atypical mycobacteria.
3. Nodules on the neck (side or back) may indicate the presence of a source of infection in the immediate vicinity (inflammation of the respiratory tract, larynx, skin infections).

Enlargement of the occipital nodes Komarovsky considers it a sign of the successful functioning of the immune system in the process of the body's struggle against various viral pathogens. If the child has had SARS, influenza, adenovirus, then such an increase cannot be considered an independent disease. Such an increase does not need treatment and usually resolves on its own, in 2-3 weeks.

Bilateral inflammation - alarm symptom, which may accompany infectious mononucleosis, toxoplasmosis, secondary syphilis and others serious illness. If the knot is inflamed on one side, you should not worry. According to Komarovsky, this may indicate that this particular node works as part of the immune system a little more actively than its other counterparts, taking on an additional “load”. Its increase cannot be considered a sign of disease.

The most common causes of cervical lymphadenitis, according to Evgeny Komarovsky, lie in numerous lymphotropic viral infections, which include even familiar to many herpes, adenovirus infection and others.

In any case, the doctor says, parents should not panic and immediately drag the poor child to a variety of medical specialists. In most cases, urgent and urgent treatment is not required, and often the inflamed lymph node returns to normal on its own, without any effort from doctors, moms, dads and grandmothers. Do not immediately go to the pharmacy for antibiotics. But to visit a pediatrician and get a referral for tests is a must.

Treatment according to Komarovsky

Before prescribing treatment, Evgeny Olegovich recommends that parents find an opportunity to do an examination in a good virological laboratory. It is her specialists and modern high-precision laboratory equipment that will help to most accurately determine which virus caused the enlargement of the lymph nodes.

In most cases, the usual clinical blood test is sufficient, in which the leukocyte formula is determined.

If lymphadenitis is recurrent and returns again and again, then Komarovsky considers it sufficient to do such a blood test 2-3 times a year. This, he said, is quite enough to control the situation.

If the viral etiology of cervical lymphadenitis is confirmed, treatment does not make sense at all, Evgeny Komarovsky emphasizes. The disease will pass on its own - as the immune system completely copes with the foreign agent. If bakposev gives positive result on staphylococcus or streptococcus, then the doctor will definitely prescribe antibiotic therapy.

Adviсe

In 90% of cases, enlarged cervical lymph nodes do not bother the child himself, but his overly caring and worried parents. In most cases, says Yevgeny Komarovsky, it is better to leave the child alone (especially if the pediatricians are not alarmed by anything, and the blood tests of the child are within the normal range).

If the inflamed lymph node turns red, this may indicate suppuration. In this case, the temperature rises, the baby's condition deteriorates significantly. Such an ailment is fraught with a breakthrough of purulent contents into the internal tissues. Komarovsky, at the first sign of redness, advises immediately contacting a pediatric surgeon, because it is often necessary to treat purulent lymphadenitis surgically.

Why the lymph nodes are enlarged, what are the inflamed lymph nodes, is it serious and what to do about it - Dr. Komarovsky will tell in the video below.

Lymphadenopathy is an enlargement of the lymph nodes of various localizations. Why do the lymph nodes in the neck of a child increase? What to do if enlarged and inflamed lymph nodes are palpated on the baby's neck?

Why are the lymph nodes in the child's neck inflamed?

Lymph nodes are a kind of biological filters scattered throughout the body. Rounded or oval formations are located in clusters near large vessels and next to the main internal organs. Most often, clusters of lymph nodes can be found along the largest veins of the human body. In healthy children, these formations reach sizes from 0.5 to 5 cm. Without a reason, the lymph nodes do not increase, remaining unchanged throughout life.

All lymph flowing through biological filters passes through lymphatic vessels. Here it is cleared of harmful toxins and various infectious agents. Acting as a collector, the lymph nodes constantly collect everything dangerous substances entering the body. For the time being, this well-functioning system protects a person, but sooner or later the mechanism fails. Lymph nodes become inflamed, and this serves as a signal for the development of a particular pathology in the child's body.

In the neck area in children, several groups of lymph nodes are distinguished behind and in front:

• submandibular;
• chin;
• sublingual;
• supraclavicular;
• anterior cervical.

Causes of enlarged lymph nodes in the neck in a child

Enlarged and inflamed lymph nodes in the neck in children are a sign of certain problems in the body. The causes of this condition can be associated with both the development of local infection and general intoxication. What leads to the development of cervical lymphadenopathy?

Allocate localized, regional and generalized lymphadenopathy. With a localized form, inflammation affects no more than one group of lymph nodes in the neck. Regional lymphadenopathy captures 2 groups of lymph nodes located nearby. In the case of a generalized form, biological filters throughout the body suffer.

Possible causes of localized and regional lymphadenopathy in the neck:

• SARS, influenza;
• childhood infections (measles, rubella, scarlet fever, mumps);
• ENT infections;
• inflammatory processes in the oral cavity (gingivitis, stomatitis, caries, pulpitis);
• purulent infections of the skin in the neck;
• malignant tumors.

Enlarged and inflamed lymph nodes in the neck can be a manifestation of a general disease. In this case, generalized lymphadenopathy develops. In this condition, rounded inflamed formations will be determined throughout the body, and not just in the neck.

Causes of generalized lymphadenopathy in children:

• some infectious diseases (infectious mononucleosis, viral hepatitis, tuberculosis, yersiniosis, toxoplasmosis);
• blood diseases;
• metastases of malignant tumors;
• autoimmune diseases;
• metabolic diseases;
• immunodeficiencies;
• taking certain medications.

All stated reasons can occur in children at almost any age and require careful diagnosis by a specialist. Treatment of lymphadenopathy will depend on the identified disease, the condition of the child and the presence of various comorbidities.

Main manifestations

Finding enlarged and inflamed lymph nodes in the neck is quite simple. Rounded elastic formations can be noticed by the child himself, his parents or a doctor during examination. Altered lymph nodes can be located both behind and in front of the neck - depending on the lesion. In some cases, they hurt when pressing or turning the head, in others they do not cause the child the slightest concern. Often at the same time, body temperature rises, chills, weakness and other signs of intoxication appear.

Normally, in healthy children, lymph nodes in the neck can be palpated. Such formations do not exceed 1 cm in size and always remain painless. It is worth worrying if the lymph nodes increase and become more than 1.5 cm in diameter. If such formations hurt and move poorly relative to the skin, you should definitely consult a doctor and try to find the causes of this condition.

Consult a doctor if an increase in lymph nodes is accompanied by a deterioration in the general condition of the child.

Of great importance is not only the size, but also the consistency of the altered lymph nodes. For inflammatory processes, the appearance of enlarged soft-elastic formations is characteristic. Dense lymph nodes in children occur with metastases tumor cells. Cohesion among themselves and with surrounding tissues is characteristic of malignant tumors and tuberculosis.

Residual lymphadenopathy deserves special attention. This phenomenon occurs after the child has the flu, SARS or other infectious disease. Enlarged and inflamed lymph nodes in the child's neck can persist for up to a month after recovery. Special treatment in this case is not carried out.

Diagnostic methods

What to do if enlarged lymph nodes are palpated in the child's neck? First of all, you need to figure out what could provoke such a condition. If the child has had the flu or another illness in the near future, you should not worry. It is likely that the enlargement of the lymph nodes in the neck was caused by a common infection of the oral cavity and nasopharynx. It is not necessary to treat inflamed lymph nodes in this case. Within 2-4 weeks after recovery, the formations on the neck will disappear by themselves without any additional therapy.

There are situations in which you should not hesitate to visit a doctor. In what cases is it necessary to consult a specialist?

• Lymph nodes are constantly in an enlarged state (more than 1 month).
• Lymph nodes increase in several groups at once.
• The child's body temperature rises against the background of lymphadenopathy.
• The skin over the formation is red, hot to the touch, and touching the node causes severe pain.
• Lymph nodes are soldered to each other and to surrounding tissues.

In search of the cause of enlarged lymph nodes, the doctor may suggest a biopsy of the formation. The procedure is necessarily carried out if the child's condition does not improve, despite all the treatment. Also, a biopsy is indicated for formations larger than 2.5 cm and for suspected malignant tumors.

Biopsy in children is usually performed under local anesthesia. The doctor disinfects the skin, makes an incision and removes the affected lymph node. Education is sent to the laboratory for research. Based on the results of the analysis, the doctor will be able to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment for the small patient.

How to treat lymph nodes in the neck of a child?

Treatment of the lymph nodes themselves in children does not make sense. Before treating this or that inflamed lymph node, you should find out the cause of its appearance. Inflammation of the formation is only a consequence of some process: infectious, autoimmune or tumor. It is necessary to treat the disease itself, which led to the growth lymphoid tissue on the neck.

What to do if the change in the lymph nodes is accompanied by signs of an infectious disease? If an infection lies behind the swollen lymph nodes, the doctor may prescribe antibiotic or antiviral drugs. The treatment lasts from 5 to 14 days, after which the doctor evaluates the results of the therapy. During this time, all the main symptoms of the disease should go away, and with them the inflamed lymph nodes should also decrease. If the treatment has not brought results, it is worth thinking about a biopsy of the formation and other additional methods of examination.

Upon detection cancerous tumor the oncologist should treat the child. The treatment regimen will depend on the type of neoplasm, its prevalence and the general condition of the patient. autoimmune and endocrine diseases should also be handled by relevant professionals.

Surgical treatment is performed quite rarely and only if the inflammatory process is localized strictly in the affected lymph node. The formation is removed under local or general anesthesia. After surgery, conservative treatment with antibiotics is performed. a wide range actions.

Various pathological processes V human body can cause swollen lymph nodes.

In childhood, this problem is most relevant. The most common manifestation can be considered an increase in the child's lymph nodes in the neck.

It is rather difficult to determine whether a lymph node is enlarged in a small child, since it is quite small and soft. Quite often there is such a phenomenon when the throat hurts and the lymph node in the neck is inflamed. In these, you need to be able to distinguish between an inflamed and enlarged lymph node with a sore throat in a child from other conditions.

The lymph node is called the formation, the so-called filter, which cleans the lymph and prevents pathogenic microorganisms from entering the body. This is the main function of the lymph node. In addition, immune cells are formed in the lymph nodes, which destroy all harmful bacteria that enter the body.

In any situation, an increase in the lymph node indicates the presence of any disease. Lymphodenitis is a disease in which the lymph node becomes inflamed and there is a threat to health. The presence of an enlarged lymph node in a child indicates the fact that an infectious process has developed in his body. In such a situation, the lymph node begins to produce a large number of white blood cells to fight the infection. That is why there is an increase in the node. If you find enlarged lymph nodes on the child's neck, this means that an infection lurks in his body.

Experts believe that a quarter of the causes of inflammation of the lymph nodes are generalized. In other words, when an infection affects the child's body, several areas of the body become inflamed.

What provokes an increase in lymph nodes?

1. SARS. Etc respiratory infections in children, an increase in cervical lymph nodes is often observed, which are protection for the body, preventing pathogenic microorganisms from passing inside.
2. 2Scratches from cats and dogs. Injuries from pets provoke the entry of infections in the animal's body into the bloodstream. Therefore, after such bites, an increase in lymph nodes can be observed.
3. Pathological processes caused by infections. Infection in the body causes an increase or inflammation of the lymph node, and also provokes the development of pathologies of the head, respiratory system.

Infectious agents enter the body through the skin, mucous membranes and lymphatic capillaries. Bacteria travel through these capillaries to the lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are a "protective mesh" that filters lymph and fight pests.

If the infection has previously affected the body, then the fight against it will not take much time, and if the infection is new, then the body will fight it more a long period time. It is this process of “struggle” that provokes an increase in lymph nodes, since lymph stagnates in them. With a long process of "fighting" the node can increase chronically and subsequently spread the infection throughout the body.

If the virus is too active, it can cause the development of purulent inflammation. In this case, hyperemia, swelling occurs, and fluctuation is felt during palpation of the node. Such manifestations should push you to go to the doctor.

In general, any changes in the lymph nodes should prompt a trip to a specialist. This is due to the fact that timely and accurately diagnosed, as well as effectively prescribed complex treatment enlarged lymph nodes in the neck of a child will help to quickly get rid of any ailments.

How to treat lymph nodes in the neck? The answer to the question is quite simple, an experienced specialist should deal with the treatment of this problem, after a thorough diagnosis.

Even with a slight increase in the lymph nodes in a child (in the absence of various other symptoms) should see a doctor. The specialist will advise you diagnostic procedures, among which: ultrasound, Mantoux test, blood test, x-ray.

If the above examinations did not answer the question: “What kind of infection is this?”, And pus is found in the lymph nodes, then a puncture of the lymph node is necessary. This procedure will accurately make it possible to determine the cause of the inflammatory process.

Holding self-treatment enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, not recommended. With any changes, it is important to consult a specialist. Regardless of the choice of means and methods of treatment, all of them must be discussed with the doctor.

A little about lymphadenitis

Various causes of inflammation of the nodes will provoke the manifestation of various symptoms. Basically, the development of lymphadenitis is caused by the penetration into the body of such infections as: staphylococcus aureus and streptococcus. If there are not a large number of viruses in the body, then no changes in the lymph nodes may occur. Caries, tonsillitis, periodontitis, SARS and influenza can provoke an increase in cervical lymph nodes. Their increase indicates that the body is trying to cope with the infection that has got into it.

The blood stream carries bacteria throughout the body, including the lymph nodes, which subsequently become inflamed. With lymphadenitis, pus is formed in the nodes, which must be subjected to surgical intervention.

• Manifestation of body poisoning - fever, headache, weakness, nausea;
• Enlargement of the node - it is visible to the naked eye and it is easily felt on palpation;
• Redness of the skin;
• A change in the density of the node - it thickens, with suppuration - it becomes soft.

The cure for the infection does not guarantee the reduction of the node, it can be enlarged for a long period of time. Sometimes, lymphadenitis becomes chronic and does not show any symptoms.

Lymphadenitis can be confused with malignant neoplasm(lymphoma). But there are some differences, knowing from you will never confuse these diseases. With lymphadenitis, the node is soft, painful and dense, not fused with neighboring tissues; with lymphoma, the node does not cause pain, it is motionless and grows rapidly.

Any changes in the lymph nodes indicate the presence of an infection and require an immediate visit to a specialist.

At the most early signs lymphadenitis, you should contact your pediatrician, who will conduct an examination and prescribe an effective treatment. Almost all causes of inflammatory processes in the lymph nodes indicate the presence of pathology in the body.

According to experts, there are more than 100 diseases that can lead to inflammation of the nodes. Cervical lymph nodes become inflamed only with diseases that are associated with the head. In order to make an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to take into account all the symptoms that accompany lymphadenitis.

If the lymph nodes in the child's neck are inflamed, then a mandatory consultation of the ENT and pediatrician is necessary. With such diseases, it is not recommended to treat yourself. Warming up, warming compresses are contraindicated.

Pros and cons of treatment

In a situation where the size of the nodes is stable, the child does not slow down in development, analyzes are within normal values, then the specialist is limited to observing the dynamics of the child's condition.

It is especially important in such situations to treat the underlying disease that provoked inflammation. With a previous extraction of a tooth or adenoids, the state of the lymph nodes will recover on its own.

When the growth of the node (one or more) is fast enough, and the ongoing therapy does not bring visible results, then it is worth examining the child's body more carefully.

What should not be done in any case, with inflamed lymph nodes in a child?

Forbidden:

• The use of physiotherapy treatment;
• Thermal procedures;
• Look for hereditary factors that provoke pathology.

The opinion of Dr. Komarovsky

He talked about the fact that at the moment there are many viral lymphotropic infections. These include: herpes virus, mononucleosis, adenovirus, cytomegalovirus. These viruses provoke an increase and inflammation of the nodes.

An important question is: “If the lymph nodes in the neck hurt, is it necessary to carry out treatment?” to which the doctor has the answer: "Not necessarily at all." This is due to the fact that the body of children reacts to the presence of microorganisms differently than in adults. Therefore, the periodic enlargement of the lymph nodes with age will pass and you should not worry about it. The main indicator is a blood test, which is recommended to take 2 times a year.

If the lymph nodes do not bother the child, then you should not create unnecessary panic and disturb him unnecessarily.

Soreness of the lymph nodes

If you are concerned about the soreness of the lymph node in the neck on the right, then this may indicate the presence of an inflammatory process in the throat, inflammation of the right tonsil, an increase in the right lobe of the thyroid gland. In some cases, there may be an infection that has developed from the teeth, tongue, and oral cavity. Before doing anything, remember that with a sore throat and lymph nodes in the neck, it is forbidden to apply compresses and warm the site of inflammation, this can lead to the development of a purulent abscess.

In any situation right decision there will be a visit to a specialist. This does not need to be debugged, since the infection can quickly spread throughout the body. Failure to provide timely and effective treatment will lead to inflammation of the remaining lymph nodes in the child's neck.

The pain of the cervical lymph nodes on the left side is caused by the same reasons as on the right. The only difference may be that with pain on the virgin side, one can suspect the presence of diseases of the retroperitoneal space or abdominal cavity. With the defeat of the left submandibular node, we can talk about such pathologies as: toxoplasmosis, CMV, infectious mononucleosis. Children are often susceptible to such diseases, but to make an accurate diagnosis, a number of examinations are needed:

• General urine analysis;
• Blood chemistry;

¼ of all cases of inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck are accompanied by general inflammation throughout the lymphatic system. Therefore, with pain in the cervical lymph nodes in a child, there is an increase in temperature, weakness, chills.

Treatment

To answer the question: "How to treat lymph nodes in the neck in children?" it is worth finding out what provoked their increase and inflammation. Since their growth is a consequence of damage to the body, it is first necessary to find out the cause and then decide on treatment.

Only by curing the root cause of the increase in nodes, you can bring their condition back to normal.

If this is provoked by bacterial infections, then it is worth using antibacterial medicines. Colds require an increase in immunity. Antihistamines are used for allergic reactions. These medicines will effectively get rid of lymphadenitis.

If the enlargement of the lymph nodes is caused by an oncological disease, then chemotherapy and radiotherapy are used for treatment. The course of treatment is several months. If this does not give results, then the course is repeated again after 2-3 months. The most important thing is to stop the growth of metastases and further growth of nodes.

Only after consulting with a specialist can you find out exactly how to treat lymph nodes in the neck at home. Therapeutic measures are selected for each child individually, taking into account his history and characteristics. Factors influencing the choice of therapy:

• General condition of the immune system;
• The reasons for the development of this pathology;
• duration of pathology.

Lymphadenitis caused by infection is not treated during the first 3 days antibacterial drugs. With strong immunity, the temperature should pass during this period.

Antibiotics are prescribed in the case when the child's temperature does not subside within 3 days.

Medications such as deltason and prednisolone are used in the treatment of cervical lymph nodes to eliminate the focus of a bacterial infection. Such treatment is recommended only when other methods are not effective.

It is important to remember that an increase in immunity should accompany the process of treating lymph nodes in the child's neck. effective means for this will be: extract of echinacea and ginseng. Any methods and medicines for treatment should be discussed with a specialist, because the future of your child depends on it.

Alternative treatment

How to cure a lymph node in the neck with alternative medicine?

For the treatment of lymph nodes with home remedies, you can use the following recipes (a doctor's consultation is required before use):

In equal parts, take oregano, nettle, hop cones and yarrow, as well as three parts of horsetail, all this must be mixed, then pour ½ liter of water and heat in a water bath for about 20 minutes. After 10 minutes, the broth is filtered and the child is allowed to drink 3 ½ cup once a day;

Pour ¼ cup of hazel leaves and bark into a glass container - pour hot water. Wrap in a towel and leave for 1 hour in a warm place. After straining, the decoction is ready for use. Drink 4 times a day, 50 ml;

grind the leaves walnut and cover with boiling water for 20 minutes. use the mixture as a compress (apply for 20 minutes twice a day);

Wash and dry the celandine leaves. Squeeze out the juice from it and dilute with water in a ratio of 1: 1. Attach at night to places of inflammation;

Melt 200 g of fat, then add boletus herbs there and put on water bath for 4 hours. Then pour the mixture into an airtight container. Apply this ointment to the lymph nodes three times a day.

In young children, the lymph nodes are small and soft, but in some cases they become inflamed and enlarged.

The situation when the lymph nodes suddenly become inflamed in a child is known firsthand to many mothers. But not everyone knows that this kind of disease should not be ignored, as they can lead to very undesirable consequences for the child's body. In this article, we will try to answer the question of why a child's lymph nodes become inflamed and how to properly treat inflammation.

The protective function of the lymph nodes begins to manifest itself when the baby is 3 months old, but purulent lymphadenitis most often occur at the age of 5-7 years, when the lymphatic system is already fully formed.

It will take a few more years, and the body will acquire the ability to independently suppress infections in the lymph nodes, but for now, the inflamed lymph nodes in the baby signal the reaction of the immune system to the penetration of bacteria. An increase in the size of the lymph nodes, redness of the skin, and even sometimes suppuration indicate a weak immune system that cannot cope with the load.

Sometimes it happens that a child's lymph nodes become inflamed simply because the infection got into the lymphatic system itself, for example, with deep infected wounds or scratches on the child's skin. There will be signs of intoxication: depression, often fever and pain in the area of ​​the lymph nodes. With the treatment of scratches, the disease also disappears.

But parents should not take lightly the condition when the child has a temperature and the lymph node is inflamed, since sometimes this situation can be very dangerous and indicate the development of malignant tumors. In this case, the lymph node acts as a filter, preventing the spread of cancer cells.

What disease are enlarged and inflamed lymph nodes talking about depends on their location. If the child has inflamed lymph nodes in the back of the head, diseases such as rubella, measles, toxoplasmosis can be suspected. With toxoplasmosis, inflammation and enlargement of the lymph node to the size of hazelnut in the groin area.

If it is infectious mononucleosis, then in addition to severe pain in the region of the occipital lymph nodes, swelling of the face may be observed. Infection middle and outer ear, streptococcal tonsillitis or diphtheria can also provoke inflammation of the lymph nodes on the head.

If the child has inflamed lymph nodes in the neck - the cause must be sought in infectious colds if underarms - in diseases and skin lesions in the arms, shoulders and chest. Inflammation of the lymph nodes in the groin may be the result of furunculosis in the buttocks.

How to treat swollen lymph nodes?

Sometimes the inflamed lymph nodes can suppurate, and then the help of a surgeon will be needed to prevent further spread of the infection by blood and even possible infection blood. After the operation you will need rehabilitation treatment antibiotics.

In order not to bring the disease to surgical intervention, scratches on the skin need to be treated antiseptics. In no case should you try to warm up the lymph nodes on your own.

To prevent undesirable consequences need to start treatment immediately inflamed lymph nodes The child has. The doctor will make a diagnosis and prescribe medication. Sometimes when serious illnesses needed additional diagnostics(blood test, puncture).

Let us recall once again that the treatment of inflamed lymph nodes in a child is ineffective, since inflammation is only a consequence of a specific disease. For effective treatment, it is necessary to correctly determine the cause that caused this phenomenon and eliminate it in time.

result correct diagnosis will stop the inflammatory process and return the normal size of the lymph nodes.