Born Angels

The swollen glands or lymph nodes are an important part of the body’s defense system against infection or disease. These nodes contain cells, called lymphocytes, which act as barriers against infectious agents. Lymphocytes produce substances called antibodies that destroy or immobilize the cells invasive or harmful substances.

When our baby has swollen lymph nodes or increases its size significantly, it means that it has increased the number of lymphocytes due to infection or other illness and that they are mobilizing to produce more antibodies. In very rare cases if a node is swollen, especially for long and the inflammation is not associated with redness or pain, may indicate the existence of a tumor.

If your baby has swollen glands, you may receive touching and it is possible that you can see the swelling. Usually painful to touch it, so the baby will soon express their mourning, probably if you look close you can identify areas of injury or infection responsible for inflammation. For example, a throat infection can cause swelling in the lymph nodes in the neck, and a wound in the arm may swell lymph nodes under the arm.

A generalized disease as some viral infections can cause inflammation of several nodes. Typically, as children get more viral infections than adults, it is easier to have swollen lymph glands, especially the neck.

Comments are closed.