The body's lymphatic system is made up of lymph glands and ducts that connect them together. These glands and ducts run through the entire body. The glands protect the body by making a white blood cell that kills germs in the body and by trapping viruses, bacteria and cancer cells.

You can feel your child's lymph glands when they swell up. Infected glands usually hurt when touched. Sometimes the glands stay swollen for a long time after the infection is gone, but they usually don't hurt and are not dangerous.

Watch out for hard, rubbery glands that are painless and getting bigger. These glands can be signs of lymphoma (cancer of the lymph glands) or some other cancer.

The salivary glands are under the tongue, on the bottom of the mouth, and just below the ear. They are not lymph glands. They make saliva, or "spit." Salivary glands under the ears (near the jaw line) swell up when your child has mumps.

What Causes Swollen Glands?

In the neck, a throat or ear infection can cause swollen glands.

-- An infection in the feet, legs, or groin can make lymph glands in the groin swell. Mononucleosis can make neck glands swell. (High school and college students also call this "mono" or "the kissing disease.)

-- Mumps

-- Cat scratch fever. A cat's claws carry this sickness.

-- Medicines like Dilantin (This medicine is for epilepsy.)

-- Dental work

-- Lymphoma, a cancer of the lymph glands.

-- Tuberculosis (TB)

Questions to Ask

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, see a doctor:

Are the swollen glands:

-- Red?

-- Sore when you touch them?

-- At the bottom of the neck?

-- Can you see the swollen glands between the jaw and under the ear?

-- Are the swollen glands near the back of the neck? Is there a pink rash on the face?

-- Has your child had swollen glands for more than 3 weeks? And you don't know why?

-- Are the swollen glands ½ or more inches big?

-- Is your child taking Dilantin?

Dr. Richard E. Sterling is a board-certified Ear, Nose, and Throat/Allergy specialist with offices in Orangeburg and Walterboro, SC. To contact him call (803) 534-3324 or (843) 549-9445 or via e-mail at SterlingENT531@yahoo.com

You must be logged in to comment.