A member asked:
My toddler has lymph nodes on back of head. they feel like they are stuck together. i feel an indent between them but they move together. normal?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Holly Maesanswered
Pediatrics 38 years experience
Likely normal: Those nodes on the back of the head, the occipital nodes, service most of the scalp. So if your toddler has any scalp irritation, be it a little cradle cap to bug bites on scalp to irritation from too tight of braiding of hair, these nodes can enlarge and wax and wane in size. As long as they are not getting bigger...Bigger...Bigger, and are not red/hot/very tender, they can be watched.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Michael Milleranswered
Wound care 38 years experience
Monitoring Centers: Lymphatic system absorbs/carries things too big to go into the arteries/veins like bacteria eaten by white cells and digested food. Lymph nodes "taste" the lymph for anything bad like bacteria/viruses/cancers, etc. When it detects a problem, it alerts the immune system and your body reacts. They enlarge in response to the inflammation they create when they react. They shrink when all is well.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Feb 2, 2014
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