Suggest Treatment For Swollen Occipital Lymph Nodes In A Child

Posted on Wed, 2 Nov 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 2 Nov 2016 Answered on

Tue, 22 Nov 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi,
.

My 3 year old son has his occipital lymph nodes swollen since a year(behind his ears). Another pair of lymph nodes got swollen since April just next to it. they are moving and doctors assure me that the size is not significantly high. I am worried about that though as it hasn't gone away. The doc asked me to take a cbc, esr, crp. Attaching the reports here.

crp is negative but I don't have the report now. will upload in some time

Answered by Dr. Deepak Sundriyal (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Hello dear. Small nodes can be seen.

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear. I havs read the query. So small nodes less than a cm in size, which are XXXXXXX not fixed to each other or fixed to skin are mostly benign and does not represent disease. However they should be observed and any increase in size or pain needs evaluation.
Thanks and regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. REMY KOSHY

Follow up: Dr. Deepak Sundriyal (57 minutes later)

Thank you. But aren't the nodes supposed to go off? It's been there for almost 6 months bit no changes in size. I have been asked to take crp, esr and cbc. Does the report rule out any serious diseases?

Answered by Dr. Deepak Sundriyal (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Hello dear. Report is normal.

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear. As i said earlier the nodes in children are usually due to a chronic viral infection or respiratory infection or infection of scalp. If these conditions have been ruled out and the node size is more than 1cm, then it need to be examined by needle aspiration.
The blood reports are normal and need not to worry.
Thanks and regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng