teenager

[cthrnplk]

My teenager has had swollen glands in the neck with some nodules for several days.No fever no other symptoms then developed abdo pain and had to have lap appi no rupture WBC normal but low grade fever 100.6.
Next couple of days gland in her neck got worse and developed a fever 101.8 started her on Cephalexin just to be on the safe side. 1 week later still has swollen gland did blood work EBV neg WBC low, Platlets low with elevated liver enzymes. Seen my physician want to see a hematologist waiting for approval.
Any ideas????

[Gio77Italy]

my mother used to remove the white plaques on the tonsils with a pointed stick wrapped in cotton wet with Hydrogen peroxide! also we would gargle the throat with H2O2 3% diluted with a bit of water..

red vinegar and salt is also effective

[cthrnplk]

Hi Gio,
Thanks for your reply. Now has white pustules on her tonsils.No fever.
No changes i neuro status or anything that would trigger my concern for any
neurological involvement i.e. meningitis.
She has some lethargy..but she is 15!
Not sure if they even checked her ESR.
Dont seem to follow that here in the US as closely as they do in Europe.Not sure why as its it a great indicator for infection. Seem to follow WBC with left shifts bandemia more. I trained in England.
One thing I did forget to mention is that she bruises easily and has nose bleeds occasionally..but so did I when I was a kid.

I have asked for a referral to Stanford so they can take a look if nothing is wrong any I am just being a worry wort that would be great.

P.S. the cephalexin was given as a precaution as she had just had an appi.

Thanks for your input really helps to talk with someone and get their input

[Gio77Italy]

it would be interesting to know if she had an signs or symptoms of an infection at all: loose stool, nasal drip, headache/nausea, bladder symptoms, allergy-like symptoms etc.

there was no reason to give her antibiotics, no particular signs of bacterial infection.

did you notice if her cognitive functions have been affected too? confusion, lethargy, forgetfulness, irritability..

if you want to see a Hematologist because you're worried about the liver, elevated liver enzymes can be given by an infection too, temporarily, maybe viral. some strains of flu are almost asymptomatic.

so far everything is compatible with an infection. if she's healthy and strong overall you can wait it out and repeat CBC+esr, liver function, liver enzymes in one-two months then eventually if wbc are still low take it to a specialist.