The lymph glands are an important part of the immune system and serve as filters for bacteria. They are distributed throughout the body, and can usually be felt in the neck in normal children, in whom lymph nodes are usually larger than those of adults. Lymph nodes tend to enlarge at times of infection; if your child has tonsillitis, for example, you may notice swollen and tender lumps in her neck. These are the lymph glands which are busily fighting infection. Sometimes they can swell up to 3 cm in size; any lump larger than this should be checked by your doctor.

Lymph nodes can swell in reaction to many different things, for example, cuts, scratches, burns and insect bites. They also become enlarged during certain infections such as a sore throat or glandular fever. Groups of lymph nodes usually function over a certain area — groin nodes are responsible for the legs and lower abdomen, nodes in the armpit drain the arms and chest, neck nodes drain the head and neck region. Lymph nodes can stay enlarged for up to a month after the infection has cleared. Cancer is a rare cause of swollen lymph glands in children.

When to see your doctor

• if there is no obvious cause for your child’s lymph glands to be enlarged;

• if the node is greater than 3 cm in diameter;

• if your child has trouble swallowing or breathing, and has enlarged lymph glands in the neck;

• if your child complains of pain over the area of swollen lymph glands;

• if your child is unwell in addition to having swollen lymph glands.

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