I really need some "mom" advice here.... I took my 6-year-old son to the pediatrician this morning?

No blood tests? I would have asked for one just to be safe..

Lymph nodes do swell from common infections and most people don't even notice. But just to be safe get him a blood test. "DON"T GO SEE A SPECIALIST" unless the blood test come back with something else other than a virus/infection.

Your doctor may be right that it is probably nothing. The lymph nodes are our bodies way to self cleansing so treating everything may just set up for immunity to drugs later in life. I would recommend calling the office back and asking her how long before you can expect them to start to go away. You didn't mention if he has a temperature and if so for how long. If he has a temperature, how long should you allow it to continue, only using OTC treatments? Swollen lymph nodes are from some sort of infection. Bacterial or Viral? No tests were done??? If it were to be strep, he would need to be on antibiotics. Strep for example comes in different forms not always a raw, sore throat. My daughter had a red blister like rash on her upper lip and it turned out to be a form of strep.

Attached is a link description swollen lymph nodes.

Hope your little man feels better, and if your not happy with the answers you get. Go with your gut feeling and see another doctor.

Your pediatrician is actually correct ---lymph nodes can become swollen for a variety of reasons at the drop a dime. The only time this is a suspicious issue is when they are accompanied by pain and fever.

Lymph nodes are the garbage cans of the body ---picking up toxins and storing for removal so quite common;y they will become inflamed for short periods of time and frequently.

Also - most times it is a virus that affects them and viruses have to work themselves out of the system as they are not susceptible to antibiotics.

Do what your pediatrician suggests - - - keep an eye on them and call if he doesn't improve.

That's the norm, actually. It's always good to get a second or even a third opinion, though, just in case --- I'd wait to see if the nodes improve within a certain amount of time first while doing my own independent research into the possibilities behind swollen lymph nodes and their locations.

I am a mom to a 5 year old son and when he was 3 he had a knot come up on the side of his neck. It was hard but he never complained of it hurting. I took him to the doctor and I was told the same thing not to worry that it was just a lymph node swelled. It still swells up every now and again but never seems to bother him. You have to trust your mom instincts. If you feel better getting a second opinion then I would get one. When it comes to our children we can never be too careful.

It could be as simple as a virus. When I was a child Every couple of years I would have swollen lymphnodes under my arm. After about a week it would go away, they were tender and just disappear. The doctors did some tests and the simple answer was just swollen lymphnodes. That simple. The last time I had them I was about 16 Im 34 now.

That's a really hard thing to deal with I know. My then 2 year old son had swollen glands in his neck and we went to the doctor. They ran all sorts of test, blood, urine, swabs, etc. The doctor came in and told me that "it's not Leukemia"! I almost passed out when I heard that word! He really gave me no explanation for it but just that it would go away, and it finally did. It's probably nothing if their not worried about it! And even if it is something you just have to move ahead and try to deal with it as best you know how.

I think that this is pretty common in kids though

Good luck, I'm sure everything is fine.

I would give it a week and see what happens (especially if he feels OK).

You can always find a doctor that will do tests for you but your doctor is probably right. I get swollen nodes about every 6 months or so from a virus or something. Sometimes in my neck but usually in my armpit.

I lived with swollen lymph nodes my entire childhood. They were swollen more often than not. I am in my 40's and as healthy as a horse. For the most part they don't even hurt, sometimes they did when I had tonsilitus, too. I wouldn't worry, maybe if they don't go down in a week or so have him rechecked.

Well, it's pretty common when the body is fighting any kind of infection for the lymph nodes to swell up. That's actually a good thing. It means his immune system is working.

But, if he shows any other sign of not feeling good, or gets a fever or won't eat or drink, then I would start worrying.