Swollen Glands When Infection Sends Signals

SWOLLEN GLANDS

When Infection Sends Signals

Lymph glands are like little crisis-management centers located throughout the body. Ordinarily, these pea-size glands are filled with cells called lymphocytes, which produce the antibodies needed to fight off invading organisms like bacteria or viruses. When your child gets a viral infection such as a cold, or a bacterial infection such as impetigo, the lymphocytes multiply rapidly in the lymph gland nearest to the source of the infection, which makes the gland somewhat swollen.

The fact that your child has swollen glands doesn't mean that he has an illness. Rather, it's a sign that your child's immune system is at work. When your child's glands are swollen, you may actually be able to feel and see the swelling, and the glands may be tender to the touch. If you examine your child carefully, you may even be able to discover the infection or injury that has caused the gland to swell, says Jack H. Hutto, Jr., M.D., chief of pediatric infectious disease at All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida.

For instance, says Dr. Hutto, a swollen gland in the groin may be due to an ingrown toenail or an infected knee, while a swollen gland in the front of the neck may indicate a cold or tonsillitis. A swollen gland under the armpit could be due to the immune system's reaction to an infected finger.

You can expect your child to have many swollen glands as she confronts the numerous cuts and colds of childhood, and for the most part, it shouldn't worry you, especially if you keep in mind the following tips.

Leave it alone. Unless the gland has a bacterial infection within it, leave it alone, says Lorry Rubin, M.D., chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Schneider Children's Hospital of the Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, New York, and associate professor of Pediatrics at the Albert Einstein School of Medicine in New York City. With swollen glands, it is more important to diagnose and treat the source of infection. The glands themselves need no treatment.

See if it moves. A lymph gland at work on a minor infection should feel relatively soft, may be tender and should be somewhat mobile, says Blair M. Eig, M.D., a pediatrician in private practice in Silver Spring, Maryland. To make sure the infection is minor, you should try moving the gland with your fingers, he suggests.

MEDICAL ALERT

When to See the Doctor

If your child has a swollen gland that is red and painful or is larger than two inches, or if your child feels ill or feverish, consult your pediatrician, says Blair M. Eig, M.D., a pediatrician in private practice in Silver Spring, Maryland. The swollen glands may be responding to a bacterial infection that needs to be treated with antibiotics.

Lorry Rubin, M.D., chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Schneider Children's Hospital of the Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, New York, and associate professor of Pediatrics at the Albert Einstein School of Medicine in New York City, says his rule of thumb is: If the gland is big enough to see, take your child to the physician. Also, if your child has a gland that is persistently enlarged but is not tender or mobile, have it evaluated by a physician. In rare instances, it could indicate a more serious medical condition.

Be alert to warmth and pain. On occasion, the glands can become overwhelmed with bacteria, causing the infection to spread and grow in the lymph gland. If the gland itself becomes infected, the skin overlying the lymph node gets red and hot, and it will be very tender and very sore, says Dr. Rubin. For pain relief, you can give your child a dose of acetaminophen (Children's Tylenol). Check the package directions for the correct dosage for your child's age and weight. If your child is under age two, consult a physician. This type of infection may require antibiotic therapy and perhaps surgical drainage, Dr. Rubin says.

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