Lumps

Lumps in the neck most commonly arise from lymph nodes. These form part of our bodies defence system, and they get bigger when they fight infection. It’s these that we refer to when we talk of `swollen glands`. Which ones swell depends on where the infection is. If we have an infected scratch on our scalp the nearest lymph node will get larger. Infections such as glandular fever may cause most of the glands to swell up. Tonsillitis will cause the glands at the front of the neck, under the angle of the jaw to get larger. Children are susceptible to a wide range of infections (because they haven’t built up immunity - see immunity and infection in the limbs section) which frequently cause their glands to swell - often alarmingly. In all these cases the glands are soft, sometimes tender, and get better once the infection settles down.

Lymph nodes which are firm, none tender, persistent or enlarging may be due to Cancer - usually, in the child, either a leukaemia or a lymphoma, and should be investigated.
 
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