Golf-ball-sized Lymph Nodes

Do you have any new cats or kittens in the home? Maybe a stray cat that may have scratched them?

My daughter recently came down with cat scratch fever. A pimple looking thing on her hand was actually the first sign of 'infection' then it went up her arm to the first lymph node and made it huge under her arm. Knowing what it was took 2 weeks, but then the treatment was fast and helped mitigate the pain.

Cat Scratch disease is something seen very often in pediatrics - and for majority, it's just an annoyance, not fatal. Cats can be treated for it too, since it can cause sneezing and coughing in them. I treated my daughter and cats at the same time... everyone is back to normal!

Good luck!

My nephews get swollen lymph nodes when they are sick typically viral infections the DR told it will have to run its course can't treat a viral infection with antiobiotcs.
I wouldn't take them to the ER for that but if the fever goes any higher without going down with painreliever uncontrolled vomitng/diaherra.You can call the office have the on call nurse call you back ask what you should do or follow her suggestions (if your Drs office has that service)
Well as other posts have mentioned Mumps did the Dr look into that?

Ooh, sounds like mumps. Definitely go to ER and check.

wow, it sounds like mumps to me. I had them when I was about 6... I know we had to take some type of meds (sis and I at the same time) and I missed an entire week of school... and it was very painful. Anything with "flavor" makes sharp pain in the glands, salt, sweet, sour... oweee!
The doc didnt say anything about it being mumps? I know we dont hear about them much anymore because of vaccinations... but I would ask anyway.

Anytime a fever goes above 104 I think an ER visit is in order.

But with your history already having tried numerous antibiotics ....I'm wondering if you have tried any other fever reducing strategies....

Have you put your kids in a nice relaxing slightly warm salt bath? I'm a big believer in the many healing properties of salts, especially if using sea salts or epsom salts. Followed by popsicles, or broth, or honey sweetened tea.

The swollen lymph nodes are not necessarily a sign of an infection, but more a sign of their little immune systems fighting mighty. Golf ball size sounds horridly huge. So I think investing in some immune boosters and immune system remedies should be something to consider when this ordeal is over. Start with 100% grape juice for now.

I hope you all heal quickly.

Has our son had his first MMR vaccine? Your dd should for have her 2nd soon. That's vaccine is for the mumps too. If he hasn't and your daughter is due for her second round could explain why they got it and his is worse. If it is mumps, they last a long time (3 weeks) and they have to run the course. The antibiotics don't work on them. I slightly remember getting them when I was about 5. My cheeks hurt very bad and I looked like a chipmunk. Watch that fever. Is there advice nurse you can call?

(Dont' take my word for it... call the nurse advice line/ talk to your pharmacist) But tylenol & ibuprofen can be taken TOGETHER, because they have different modes of action. The actually work better together than separately... it's just usually unnecessary to double tap them. They're also non-addictive... so you don't build up a tolerance to them.

MMR protects against mumps as much as it protects against Measles & Rubella. There can always be a mutation in the illness or the immune system can incorrectly copy or store the antibodies (big reason why we get boosters is to "thwack the immune system upside the head" to make sure the worst illnesses are kept "on file")... but if you've been immunized against Measle, Mumps, & Rubella... your chances of catching any of the 3 are low.

The symptoms you're describing are the same ones that *I* get when I get pneumonia. I don't wheeze with my pneumonia, however, becuase my lungs fill up so thickly that air can't pass through the mucus until I start to get better. X-rays will show the fluid levels, but listening doesn't do any good until I'm on the mend. They've only had to puncture my lungs to drain them once... but my tonsils have swollen enough to restrict breathing... so they've drained *them* on several occasions. A Z-pack (azithromycin) has been the only thing that stomps on my pneumonia when I get it. But it stomps on it fast. Within 3 days, usually, although it can take a few weeks to get back to 100%.

Defiantly sounds like mumps. As long as the temp can be brought down with with ibuprofen / Tylenol then you are managing about as well as can be expected. If the temp won't go down, then ER might be needed otherwise the Dr on Monday will be ok. Swallowing is painful but try to keep fluids up - water, broth, popsicles, jello, etc. Mumps is painful and darned annoying. If there's any good news, it's usually a lot less serious if you get it when a child instead of getting it as an adult. I had it when I was 16 (in the 70's) and it took me about 10 days to get over it. For mumps, antibiotics are not going to help because it's a virus. Once you've had mumps, you're immune to it. MMR shot usually prevents mumps which is why it's a lot less common than it use to be.

mumps sounds right like the other moms are describing and if they are right my mom made me suck on pickels for some reason when I had them. hurts worse than strept.

Immunizations do not work on me and my kiddos. My daughter almost died from a bad form of meningitis that goes to the brain when she was a baby. Same thing, tests all came negative, etc. It took her becoming so lethargic and not drinking fluids to warrant an ER per her doctor visit when her fever reached 105. They finally determined it was bacterial, and started antibiotics. But, it took 2 more days of testing to determine it was pneumococcous. They had to send labs to Texas Children's Center to get these results. A relapse after being out for a week, after they kept her a week, determined that immunizations do not work on her. I found out later they did not work on me.

Another thing, when my second daughter had a UTI, nothing showed up on labs. They had to do a catheter do test her urine to figure that out. She was running a high fever also.

With anything the body is fighting, the lymph nodes can swell.

Did they get tested for flu?

I think you can justify taking them to the ER, (1) ask for a throat culture and blood draw. (2) Then ask for a culture and sensitivity on the throat swab and the blood that is drawn.

A throat culture & blood culture means the blood & throat cells are put in a petri dish and left to grow. The bacteria and viruses will either grow or not grow in this environment.

The sensitivity part is as follows: In the lab the growing bacteria or virals that grow in the petri dish will be treated/tested with various antibiotics. Through the process of elimination, the lab will discover which drugs will conquer your children's infection. Then you and the treating physician will know which drug will be effective.

A Culture & Sensitivity Test, may take as long as 3 days to get the results. It takes time to grow a bacteria.

A.

Updated

I think you can justify taking them to the ER, (1) ask for a throat culture and blood draw. (2) Then ask for a culture and sensitivity on the throat swab and the blood that is drawn.

A throat culture & blood culture means the blood & throat cells are put in a petri dish and left to grow. The bacteria and viruses will either grow or not grow in this environment.

The sensitivity part is as follows: In the lab the growing bacteria or virals that grow in the petri dish will be treated/tested with various antibiotics. Through the process of elimination, the lab will discover which drugs will conquer your children's infection. Then you and the treating physician will know which drug will be effective.

A Culture & Sensitivity Test, may take as long as 3 days to get the results. It takes time to grow a bacteria.

A.

From http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/432/main.html about mumps: Treatment includes analgesics for pain, fever reducer for fever, and adequate fluid intake to prevent dehydration from fever and anorexia. If the patient cannot swallow, I.V. fluid replacement may be used.
Acetaminophen or ibuprofen are commonly used to reduce fever and relieve discomfort. Bed rest is advised for the duration of the fever. Ice packs or heating pads may ease the pain of swollen glands.
Seems to last about 10 days. Good luck.

Wow...mumps?? I suppose since so many mentioned that, I would check it out, but I just thought the swelling was due to sickness. My lymph nodes get swollen when I'm sick, and sometimes they get pretty big. My daughter had some sort of bug recently and her high fever (104-5) lasted a solid week. I was worried but the doctor kept saying it would run it's course...they also checked for strep and UTI, which were negative and it did go away, just when they said. It's hard to see your kids going through this and you feel totally helpless but if they've run the tests then I would wait and see. I don't know much about mumps, but I guess if so many other moms mentioned it, I might call an ask-a-nurse line before going to the ER for advice.