In the article, we will figure out which doctor treats lymph nodes. We will also find out in what cases their increase and inflammation occurs.
Lymph nodes in a he althy person are almost invisible: their size is small, they are not felt during movement and do not cause pain to the patient. But at some point they can become inflamed and increase. This may indicate various conditions and ailments. The fact is that just the same lymphatic system supports the body, helping it to resist various virus viral infections. Parents quite often face the fact that a lymph node becomes inflamed behind the ear of a child.
Symptomatics
Inflammation of the lymph nodes behind the ear in children is easy to recognize. Usually the symptoms are pronounced. The first and main symptom is that the lymph node increases in size. ATThe skin in this area may become soft and swollen. This is already noticeable upon visual inspection. In addition, there may be such symptoms:
- fever, fever, high body temperature;
- headaches;
- decreased activity and lethargy;
- general malaise;
- unreasonable and frequent whims;
- sleep disorders;
- loss of appetite;
- dandruff and hair loss;
- anxiety;
- pain during probing, in some cases at rest;
- pain can be given under the jaw, in the ear, less often in the neck;
- pustular rash in the inflamed area.
When the lymph node behind the ear is enlarged in a small patient, when they feel and look like a bump, this means that the inflammation process has been going on for a long time. It is possible that the infection has been in the child's body for quite some time and needs immediate treatment.
Most often, just a few of the listed symptoms are enough for parents to go to see a doctor. You cannot self-medicate or hope that the pathology will go away by itself, since this is not a disease itself, but only one of the signs of a violation in the child's body.
Causes of inflammation
It would be useful to get acquainted with the possible causes of the process of inflammation of the lymph nodes behind the ear in children. Awareness in this matter can help parents not start the situation.
This is a warning sign. Parents should note exactly at what point the child begins to feel unwellyourself and go to the doctor in a timely manner. Self-diagnosis and, moreover, treatment is not necessary, since an enlarged lymph node can indicate various pathologies. The problem is most often hidden in nearby organs, but there are exceptions. Only a pediatrician can prescribe adequate treatment.
Inflammation of the lymph nodes behind the ear in children occurs due to the influence of the following reasons:
- impaired immunity with colds and SARS;
- various ear diseases such as otitis media;
- simple and most common rhinitis can cause swollen lymph nodes;
- inflammation of the sinuses (sinusitis);
- problems with the larynx - tonsillitis or pharyngitis;
- caries;
- purulent wounds in the oral cavity, for example, with stomatitis;
- allergic reaction;
- inflammation of the nerve in the tooth;
- angina;
- tuberculosis;
- viral and fungal infections;
- “children’s” diseases: measles, rubella, etc.;
- syphilis;
- autoimmune pathologies;
- cancer;
- HIV
Some drugs can also cause inflammation.
The list of possible diseases is quite extensive. That is why parents should observe the child and remember all his complaints. If the child is breastfeeding, you need to be especially careful, since the baby cannot yet tell how and what hurts him. This information will help in the search and allow the specialist to correctly diagnose.
To accurately setcause, different tests may be required. The child and parents must prepare for this. Further therapy is mainly directed to the elimination of the disease or condition that caused the enlargement of the lymph nodes. Below we will find out which doctor treats lymph nodes.
Which doctor should I contact?
Noticing swelling behind the ears, you should immediately contact your pediatrician. Only a doctor after the necessary diagnosis will establish the cause of the disease. The pediatrician will fully examine the patient and prescribe the necessary laboratory tests.
What actions to take in case of inflammation of the lymph nodes behind the ear in children?
Diagnosis of lymphadenitis
Thanks to the study of blood, it is possible to determine the nature of the infection and its genesis. In some cases, X-ray, ultrasound, CT or MRI, biopsy will be needed to confirm the diagnosis.
Depending on the source of the inflammation process, the doctor will refer the patient to a specialist who will prescribe further treatment: ENT, dentist, oncologist, allergist, immunologist. If the lymph node behind the ear is enlarged, therapy should be complex.
Treatment
It is necessary to fight not with an increase in the lymph node itself, but with the disease that provoked it, that is, with the cause, and not its consequence. Also, the doctor will give the necessary recommendations regarding the care of the child, since treatment without this will be ineffective and incomplete.
Many parents often ask what to do with inflammation of the lymph node behind the ear in a child. The baby will first be assigned a series of examinations, as well ascertain analyses. Based on the information received, the pediatrician will understand what disease caused the inflammation. Usually assigned:
- urinalysis;
- complete blood count;
- less often - X-ray or tomography;
- biopsy – unless oncology is suspected.
How to treat lymph nodes behind the ear? Further treatment is determined based on the results and diagnosis. Children are usually prescribed drugs to strengthen the immune system. With an allergic source of inflammation, antihistamines are used, with a viral or fungal source - antibiotics. In addition, physiotherapy is prescribed to relieve swelling, and analgesics for pain. Be sure to prescribe local preparations, for example, gargles of the throat and mouth or ear drops, when the lymph node behind the child's ear is enlarged.
Medications
Drug treatment is part of general therapy. With the help of drugs, the source of the pathology is stopped. The treatment course is completely determined by the type of infectious agent and the diagnosis of the patient. These can be antimicrobial, bactericidal, antifungal agents, antibiotics.
Preparations with a broad spectrum of influence are used, including aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, sulfonamides, azalides, macrolides, penicillins. For example, Clarithromycin, Co-trimoxazole, Azithromycin and their analogues.
If child has ear infections, topicaldrops treatment. Allergic reactions are eliminated with antihistamines that are suitable for age. To recover sooner, you need to use immunomodulatory or vitamin complexes (if you often get colds and SARS).
If the lymph node behind the child's ear is enlarged, other therapies may be used.
Other methods
If the doctor is sure that there is no suppuration and the impossibility of spreading the infection, he will prescribe a physiotherapy course aimed at eliminating swelling and inflammation. UHF and dry heat are commonly used.
The presence of an abscess requires a small surgical intervention. It is necessary to remove the pus and clean the tissues. To consolidate the result, medication is prescribed after the operation (anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, antimicrobial agents, antibiotics).
Parents' actions
If there is no careful and proper care, the effectiveness of treatment will decrease. Parents need to strictly follow the advice of the pediatrician in order not to harm the child even more. If you follow simple rules, the child will recover faster, his body will cope with the disease.
You can not warm the inflammation behind the ear. This will only make things worse as the infection can spread. The baby will feel much worse. Compresses are also prohibited, as they can cause a similar reaction.
The diet should be enriched with vitamins, which strengthens the immune system. Especially he althy fruits and vegetables. The child needs to be dressed according to the weather: not very easy, so as not tocaught a cold, but not too warm, so that it would not blow and he would not sweat.
Ears and head must be covered. You need to choose hats made from natural materials. It is impossible to use folk methods in treating a child without prior consultation with a pediatrician.
The best thing parents can do is to see a doctor in a timely manner to avoid complications.
Conclusion
The patient's mother and father need to monitor both the condition of the ears and the lymph nodes every day. In addition, infants should be checked to ensure that their lymph nodes do not enlarge, carefully care for the outer ear.
Without the doctor's permission, you can not massage and warm the inflammation, apply compresses. This may worsen the child's condition.
We reviewed the treatment of inflammation of the lymph node behind the ear in a child.
