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Conference moira::parenting

Title:	Parenting
Notice:	Previous PARENTING version at MOIRA::PARENTING_V3
Moderator:	GEMEVN::FAIMANY

Created:	Thu Apr 09 1992
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	1292
Total number of notes:	34837

962.0. "Swollen glands ??" by MSE1::ELLIS () Mon May 22 1995 14:12

Has anyone had a child with prolonged swollen glands?  My 2-yr-old son 
had chicken pox (or so we think!) about a month ago.  During the first
few days, he got a swollen gland right behind his ear.  The nurse
over the phone said that it was probably because of a nearby chicken
pox sore that was draining into it,etc...and that it could stay raised
for a month.

This week is one month, and that gland is still swollen, as well as a couple
of smaller bumps around it.   I took him in to the doctor just so someone
else could feel them & let me know if they were  normal.

He said its normal for kids under 7 to get swollen glands with any infection
( he is also had on antibiotics for a  sinus infection). He said they can 
    last SEVERAL months, and that there's no need for concern unless 
    they get red, tender,etc.  

I feel a little better that they saw  them & don't think there's a problem;
but I still worry that they're under-reacting.  I had seen  a note in
MEDICAL about adults using anti-histamines to reduce swollen glands caused
by allergies.  The doctor said that isn't usually the case with children,
though.

Has anyone ever seen this, or do you have any suggestions on what else
to do?

thanks
Pam

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
962.1	Insect bites?	STAR::LEWIS		`Mon May 22 1995 14:35`	6
	Pam, I've noticed those swollen glands on my kids even when they're healthy! I spoke to my pedi, and since it was spring/summer he said that insect bites could cause those glands to swell up too. Sue
962.2		MKOTS3::MACFAWN	My mother warned me about you...	`Mon May 22 1995 15:52`	8
	Pam, My two girls just got over the chicken pox. My oldest had a HUGE swollen gland behind her ear and it's still swollen, although not so bad and it's been 1.5 months since she got it. And the good parenting bible says, "and this too shall pass..."
962.3	same here	USCTR1::HOUGHTON		`Mon May 22 1995 16:45`	13
	Pam, My son had the chicken pox a year ago last Christmas and his glands still swell up and down a year and a half later. This has been very strange. When I asked the pedi about it she said this was caused by the chicken pox. The glands do tend to go down (but you can still feel them), but any cold flue, teething they are right back up again. She says he will out growth this. If you hear anything else about this I would be interested in what your dr. has to say...Frankly, I find it very frustrating, but my son does not seem to be bothered by this.. /k
962.4	same response from my Pedi	USCTR1::OGRADY		`Tue May 23 1995 10:43`	8
	Hi, My son is 2 and he got a bug bite behide his ear, the same thing happened with a gland right below the bite. My doctor also said this is very normal and could last several months. It's been about 4 weeks now and is gone down a little, but still it is still there. - Irene
962.5	Maybe not outgrown	HOTLNE::CORMIER		`Tue May 23 1995 11:29`	4
	My sister, who is "30 something", still gets swollen glands whenever she gets any kind of virus. Doctor says it's her body's way of coping with the 'invader' and is perfectly normal. Sarah
962.6	Keep an ear on his hearing	AKOCOA::NELSON		`Tue May 23 1995 11:58`	3
	Just make sure the child's hearing is OK. One of my sisters had chronic swollen glands for years, and it ended up affecting her hearing. Probably an extreme case, but worth considering, IMHO.
962.7		USCTR1::HSCOTT	Lynn Hanley-Scott	`Wed May 24 1995 11:24`	8
	My 6 yr old son has a tendency to have large swollen glands when fighting viruses. During chicken pox 3 weeks ago he definitely had the large glands behind the ears, that you have described. They did abate, however, as the pox cleared. I've noticed the same thing occurs when he gets bug bites a/o is fighting a cold. It seems to be his body's way of fighting things.
962.8		CSC32::A_STEINDEL		`Thu May 25 1995 14:55`	9
	Its really normal to see this happen. My 13 year old would get swollen lymph nodes reacting to pollens in the air, when my husband would mow the lawn, bug bites, and any slight viruses, and most certainly chicken pox. Chicken pox is a form of the herpes virus and it takes a while longer to get everything back to normal. Don't feel worried. -ajs
962.9	thanks	STAR::PELLIS		`Fri May 26 1995 13:57`	4
	Thanks to everyone for the replies. I'm still watching & waiting for the glands to go down, but feel a little more at ease while waiting! Pam