Cervical adenitis is an infection of a lymph node in the neck. Lymph nodes are part of the immune system and help fight infections.
Another term for this infection is lymphadenitis.
Bacteria or viruses in the nose, tonsils, or adenoids can spread to the lymph nodes and cause an infection. Bacteria may also spread from an infected tooth or from an infection in another part of the body.
Symptoms may include:
Your child may be unwilling to move the neck fully in all directions.
Your child's healthcare provider will ask about your child's symptoms and medical history and examine your child. Your child will have blood tests to look for signs of infection, including mononucleosis. Your child may have a strep test or throat culture. If the node is very swollen, or if your child has severe pain, an X-ray or CT scan of the neck may be done.
Lymph node infections caused by bacteria can be treated with antibiotic medicine. More severe infections may need to be treated with IV antibiotics in the hospital. Sometimes, if the infection becomes an abscess and is full of pus, the infection will need to be opened and drained.
There is no specific way to avoid cervical adenitis. It can help, however, to do what you can to keep your child healthy and practice good hygiene, especially by washing hands often.