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Maternal (Expert Forum)
Re: swollen glands...tonsils are almost swollen shut
Patient medical question and answer from The Maternal and Child Health Forum. Health topic area and articles about newborn care
Re: swollen glands...tonsils are almost swollen shut
by HFHS.M.D.L.M., Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By HFHS.M.D.L.M. on January 21, 1999 at 03:02:03:
In Reply to: swollen glands...tonsils are almost swollen shut posted by Valerie on January 17, 1999 at 00:32:44:
I have a little girl who will be 3 in April. Her glands in her neck are
almost always swollen. She has had mono and strep several times in the
last 2 years. She was hospitalized in Feb.of 1997 do to a several
infection; her tonsils were green. She has been put on antibotics and
sometimes the glands will down go and sometimes they won't. Her tonsils
are affecting the way she eats. She has lost some weight; she gags on her
food. I had mono in Nov. and her glands are swollen now, but she has no
white patches that I can see. Is there something I can do to get her well
and to keep her glands down? She is not on any medication now. She is not
running a fever, but she didn't with the last few infections she has had.
Is there something other than the things I mention that I should be
looking for?
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Dear Valerie :
Developmentally, lymphatic tissue of the body increases rapidly in mass during infancy and early childhood , reaching adult size at about 6 years of age. It then undergoes involution at about puberty.
The peak mass will be evident between ages 4 and 8 years , probably coinciding with peak exposure to various infectious agents for the first time ( in preschool and early school years ).
Previous or recent involvement of the lymphatic tissue with mono or other organisms may have caused some generalized lymph node enlargement , most of which will gradually shrink down to their normal size with time.
Dont worry about palpable lymph nodes , most of us have palpable lymph nodes and live a healthy life.
Palpable lymph nodes become worrisome if they are persistent without an underlying inflammatory process going on or if they get infected ( enlarge , become red and tender ) , or involve various lymph node groups in unusual places ( generalized lymphadenopathy) with or without liver and spleen enlargement.
Her tonsils will probably need attention with time , especially if they are associated with frequent infections, tonsillar enlargement with snoring , mouth breathing or periods of no breathing during sleep.Talk to her pediatrician about a second opinion with the otolaryngologist if she has any of the above symptoms . Regarding her weight loss , an assessment of what shes eating , her activity level and a very close watch on her rate of growth is essential.
Infectious Mononucleosis ( due to Epstein Barr virus) can be recurrent . Antibiotics wont help as this is a viral infection. In most cases it just has to run its course . There are certain serological tests that can determine whether she has a recent or past infection. If she is dealing with a new mono infection and has tonsillar enlargement significant enough to cause airway obstruction, a short course of steroids maybe beneficial .
L.M.
Disclaimer : this information is posted for educational purposes only . Please consult your childs physician regarding his/her illness.
Keywords : tonsillar hypertrophy*(otolaryngology), lymphadenopathy*(immunology, infectious disease), infectious mononucleosis*(infectious disease).
In Reply to: swollen glands...tonsils are almost swollen shut posted by Valerie on January 17, 1999 at 00:32:44:
I have a little girl who will be 3 in April. Her glands in her neck are
almost always swollen. She has had mono and strep several times in the
last 2 years. She was hospitalized in Feb.of 1997 do to a several
infection; her tonsils were green. She has been put on antibotics and
sometimes the glands will down go and sometimes they won't. Her tonsils
are affecting the way she eats. She has lost some weight; she gags on her
food. I had mono in Nov. and her glands are swollen now, but she has no
white patches that I can see. Is there something I can do to get her well
and to keep her glands down? She is not on any medication now. She is not
running a fever, but she didn't with the last few infections she has had.
Is there something other than the things I mention that I should be
looking for?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Valerie :
Developmentally, lymphatic tissue of the body increases rapidly in mass during infancy and early childhood , reaching adult size at about 6 years of age. It then undergoes involution at about puberty.
The peak mass will be evident between ages 4 and 8 years , probably coinciding with peak exposure to various infectious agents for the first time ( in preschool and early school years ).
Previous or recent involvement of the lymphatic tissue with mono or other organisms may have caused some generalized lymph node enlargement , most of which will gradually shrink down to their normal size with time.
Dont worry about palpable lymph nodes , most of us have palpable lymph nodes and live a healthy life.
Palpable lymph nodes become worrisome if they are persistent without an underlying inflammatory process going on or if they get infected ( enlarge , become red and tender ) , or involve various lymph node groups in unusual places ( generalized lymphadenopathy) with or without liver and spleen enlargement.
Her tonsils will probably need attention with time , especially if they are associated with frequent infections, tonsillar enlargement with snoring , mouth breathing or periods of no breathing during sleep.Talk to her pediatrician about a second opinion with the otolaryngologist if she has any of the above symptoms . Regarding her weight loss , an assessment of what shes eating , her activity level and a very close watch on her rate of growth is essential.
Infectious Mononucleosis ( due to Epstein Barr virus) can be recurrent . Antibiotics wont help as this is a viral infection. In most cases it just has to run its course . There are certain serological tests that can determine whether she has a recent or past infection. If she is dealing with a new mono infection and has tonsillar enlargement significant enough to cause airway obstruction, a short course of steroids maybe beneficial .
L.M.
Disclaimer : this information is posted for educational purposes only . Please consult your childs physician regarding his/her illness.
Keywords : tonsillar hypertrophy*(otolaryngology), lymphadenopathy*(immunology, infectious disease), infectious mononucleosis*(infectious disease).
