VERY WORRIED MOM!

[jobean10207]

my son is 1, and just today i discovered that on his neck, behind his ear, on the base of his head he has swollen lymph nodes. it is just on one side of his neck although the one at the very bottom of his head i am nto sure if it is a swollen lymph node or not because there is one on the other side just not as big. i m very concerned as my father passed away from cancer 6 yrs ago. they are soft and move around and do not seem to hurt him. i have not noticed any symptoms other than when he cried his nose is extremely runny something that doesn't usually occur with him, and he is also teething. his gums on both sides are swollen and bruised from teething. he is normally a very happy baby, above average for everything that he does. hasn't been sick but twice since hes been born. my biggest fear is that this is cancer and i will lose my baby forever. i need some advice. i called his doctor and the nurse said i could take him to the e.r but there who knows what he could catch. i am very worried about this and i need some advice i have read websites that say when they are in one area it usually indicates an infection. i know there are many bumps and things in your neck anyways so i am not 100% sure if what i am feeling are all lymph nodes or not. though there are a few i am sure are. i need some advice on whether or not he has cancer and if the runny nose when upset, and teething are making these nodes swell in his neck, behind his ears , and on the bottom of his head down basically on the neck. i am very worried about this. please help me

[jobean10207]

thank you for responding once again. i got him into his pediatrician today, and she said that to her they don't really feel swollen. and she also told me not to worry about it. she said it's common for babies lymph nodes to swell. i am hoping that this is all true and she is right about the situation. once again thank you for responding to me post.

[Dennis MD]

Hi again.
A chronic infection is a type of infection that persists in the body for 2 weeks or more.  There are a variety of chronic infections.  Tuberculosis is an example.  
Any type of infection can make the lymph nodes to enlarge.  It can involve a single lymph node or multiple lymph nodes.
I agree with your decision to bring your child to his pediatrician.  
Don’t worry too much.  

[jobean10207]

i am taking him to the doctor on monday, in the meantime can you explain to me what a chronic infection is? And also, if it is just an infection of some sort that his body is fighting off, would there be more than 1 lymph node swollen? i felt his neck today and 1 felt like it was kind of going down a little bit, but i could have sworn that i felt more swollen. i am not sure if i was really feeling them being swollen or just feeling them in general. my father died of cancer and now every swollen lymph node is cancer in my head. i would greatly appreciate it if you would respond to these other 2 questions i have. i am just needing some basic information

[Dennis MD]

Hi.
The appearance of lymph nodes in a 1-year old child usually indicates an infection.  Perhaps there is an acute viral infection that caused its enlargement and is also causing your child to have runny nose.  A chronic infection can also produce persistently enlarged lymph nodes.
You may want to bring your child to his pediatrician for evaluation.
Good luck.