I noticed tonight that my daughter had a small lump on her neck - towards the back behind her tendon in her neck (45 degree angle about an inch from the bottom of her ear). It is literally the size of a "Hungry Hippo" ball - maybe slightly smaller. Small and movable. She didn't like me touching it, but she is at a finicky age - she doesn't like doing anything she doesn't initiate these days!
I plan on calling the Pedi on Monday if it is still there - has anyone experienced this before???? I am thinking a cyst or swollen lymph node. My father in law had Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma as an adult, so I freak out when anything near the neck swells. Please ease my mind!
Thanks!
Thank you everyone for your help! I just took her to the pedi on Friday. Due to the fact she only has one lymph node swollen, and she is perfect everywhere else (her spleen was fine, etc.), they are 100% sure it's harmless!
THANKS for everyones replies, I felt confident that everything was fine thanks to your support!
My son had a movable lump removed from his neck also. The doctor told us that the movable ones are usually just lymph nodes--it's the ones you can't move that you have to worry about. But it had been there for over a year, and we were still worried, so he removed it. He was right--it was a lymph node.
Go see a doctor. It will ease your mind.
Best to you.
This happened to my son also and he is 3 we just had a xray, and blood drawn, and the tests all came back normal....
D.,
It does sound like a lymph node, I'm sure it will be fine. God Bless! Let us know what the doctor says.
My best friends son had this about a year ago and his was just swollen lymph nodes but regardles I would make an appointment with an ENT or your ped. just for test. His ENT removed it and did a bio. on it just to make sure. Best of luck to you and your baby.
Hi There,
Please don't freak out. I am a Physician Assistant and trained at Emory. It is very likely and common to have a swollen lymph node in the area you described. I worked in dermatology and very rarely saw cysts in that age group but it is not impossible. The enlarged lymph node most likely means her immune system is working on something coming from her ears, throat, scalp or sinus region. Such as a virus (cold). They can come and go without u noticing it. A persistent lymph node, lasting longer than 2 to 3 months does need to be evaluated. But by all means call your ped. They may want to check her ears for an infection. But be advised that the American Association of Pediatrics has said greater than 90% of ear infections are viral and should NOT be treated with Antibiotics (which only work on bacterial infections). Above all don't worry, LOL. Never mind, all rational fails me when assessing my daughter so I know how you feel, but rest assured that your daughter likely just has a swollen lymph node because she has a good immune system doing it's job. Hope this helps.
I agree with a lot of the other moms on here and say do go see the pediatrician but don't worry too much. I had a lymph node/cyst removed when I was three years old. I don't remember my mom saying that it was anything major, it just had been on my neck for quite a while so they opted to have it removed. Let us know how everything goes and good luck! :)
