Lump on Back of Toddler's Neck

Updated on May 30, 2010
C.B. asks from Tall Timbers, MD
9 answers

This morning, I discovered a couple of lumps on the back of my toddler's neck. They are about the size of a pea. They don't seem to hurt her and she is acting normal. She was bit by a tick near the lump locations about a week ago. However the lumps are not where she got bit. Could the tick bite be causing this, or could it be something more serious?

Either way, I am making an appointment for her as soon as the Dr.'s office opens, which won't be until Monday or Tuesday (Memorial Day weekend), but I am just hoping for some peace of mind until I can take her the the doctor.

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So What Happened?

First of all, I would like to thank everyody for their responses. Thank you so much for helping me get throught the long weekend. I took her to the Dr. this morning, he wasn't concerned at all. He said that the swellings were indeed enlarged lymp glands and that they were doing that because of the tick. He said to keep an eye on it, but all was well.

Once again, thank you all.

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A.R.

answers from Richmond on

I had this happen to my son 4 years ago and it was because of the tick bite. They said it was just a little infection and a round of antibiotics cleared it up and made it go down. So it probally isn't anything to worry too much about.

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S.D.

answers from Indianapolis on

The size of a pea, the shape of a bean, and if they move when you push them, it's probably just lymph nodes.

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J.B.

answers from Washington DC on

It sounds like lymph nodes doing their jobs. My boys both have had swollen lymph nodes in the past... sometimes for weeks at a time. As I understand it, lymph nodes are the body's cleansing system. Blood is filtered through a series of nodes and as they find work, they swell while they are scrubbing the system of anything that shouldn't be there. Certainly take her in to the Dr. but unless the lumps get bigger or bother her, don't worry in the meantime. My older son used to get lumps particularly in the back of his neck near the hairline. Dr. reassured me it was normal.

Incidentally, my Kindergartener had a tick about a month ago... no problems.

Be well. ~J

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J.S.

answers from Detroit on

Just to be safe, I would call the office and speak to their off hours person to see what they recommend. It may be nothing related or it may be but they can tell you more vs. waiting till after the weekend. Hope all goes well.

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J.C.

answers from Lynchburg on

Sounds like lymph nodes to me. I know when I first noticed my sons, I mentioned it at his annual appointment which was thankfully just a day or two after so I didn't have to schedule anything extra. I was worried because my cousin at one point had a tumor in the back of his neck. It's good to get it checked, but it sounds like just lymph nodes. I wouldn't worry about it.

S.K.

answers from Denver on

My son has a pea sized lymph node at the base of his skull/neck area and then two in this neck about the same size and i've brought it up to my doctor a lot and they said as long as they are pea sized and get no larger than a quarter and move around they really arent anything to worry about. I would think that if anything was caused by the tick a fever would be accompanying the swollen node. He has had them since birth though and he is 5 and i can still feel them. Has she been sick or anything lately? sometimes an illness will cause a node to swell a tad. I wouldn't be too concerned but you can never be too cautions. Oh and my dr told me not to mess with them too much by constantly feeling it, it makes the nodes mad I guess.

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K.R.

answers from Phoenix on

It could be so many things without being able to see it. I would take her to the doctor soon though because it could be something serious, I'm sure since she's acting normal it can wait until the office is open though.

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D.H.

answers from Richmond on

My son, now 7, has had one for about 3-4 years now. It changes shape and size occasionally, but docs have said its fine. Ranges from a pea to a nickel for us. Sometimes it does hurt if we press on it, other times it does not.

Have it checked, but I wouldnt worry too much.

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S.H.

answers from San Antonio on

my guess is it's probably his lymph nodes. Are they soft and squishy? We all have lymph nodes there and they are more visible in babies and children because they're not as fatty there.

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