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Is Cervical Lymph Node Enlargement A Symptom Of Mononucleosis?
Question: Weve been on quite an ill winter with our kids but mainly our son.
Both out kids got significant chest colds a few months ago.
During his first cold he kept playing basketball and seemed to play through it.
As he was coming off of his illness toward the end of the week he complained of what felt like a strained abdominal muscle he guessed happened during practice.
It bothered him for about 48 hours and i actually took him to the ER to rule out appendicitus. All his labs were normal as well ad his abdominal CT except for a few slightly enlarged lymph nodes in his abdomen which the doctor said could be from him having had a virus or from muscle injury. The doctor thought it was insignificant and said he felt he was confident he strained his abdominal muscle but everything else was fine. About 6 weeks later he was doing ball wresteling drills in practice and the next day he said he felt the same strained feeling in his ab muscle but to a lesser degree and again it went away.
About a week later he got really sick from what the doctors said was food poisoning due to his labs and he stayed sick with nausea, diarehea and fever for 3-4 days.
He lost about 7 lbs but is slowly gaining the weight back.
Its been about 3 weeks.
Today he came home and said he felt like he was getting sick and said his glands in his neck were swollen and hurt. I felt them and they were a little swollen but not a lot.
So now we are wondering if this is just the sick season and hes been getting sick( most of his friends have been sick as well and hes usually the last one to get it). Or if we should have him looked at more meticulously.
He says he feels fine when hes over the bugs hes gotten and the doctors weve seen dont think its anything out of the norm for whats going around.
I realize i could be being a paranoid parent but i also know he has become sexually active with his girlfriend and wonder if he could have something like mononucleosis.
His weight loss concerned me but he has put on a few more lbs in only 4 days so im not sure what to think or do at rhis point.
He seems ok and definetly not close to being obviosly ill. Hes actually the opposite. He seems pretty healthy.
Maybe just a rough cold and flu season?
Your thought would be appreciated.
Both out kids got significant chest colds a few months ago.
During his first cold he kept playing basketball and seemed to play through it.
As he was coming off of his illness toward the end of the week he complained of what felt like a strained abdominal muscle he guessed happened during practice.
It bothered him for about 48 hours and i actually took him to the ER to rule out appendicitus. All his labs were normal as well ad his abdominal CT except for a few slightly enlarged lymph nodes in his abdomen which the doctor said could be from him having had a virus or from muscle injury. The doctor thought it was insignificant and said he felt he was confident he strained his abdominal muscle but everything else was fine. About 6 weeks later he was doing ball wresteling drills in practice and the next day he said he felt the same strained feeling in his ab muscle but to a lesser degree and again it went away.
About a week later he got really sick from what the doctors said was food poisoning due to his labs and he stayed sick with nausea, diarehea and fever for 3-4 days.
He lost about 7 lbs but is slowly gaining the weight back.
Its been about 3 weeks.
Today he came home and said he felt like he was getting sick and said his glands in his neck were swollen and hurt. I felt them and they were a little swollen but not a lot.
So now we are wondering if this is just the sick season and hes been getting sick( most of his friends have been sick as well and hes usually the last one to get it). Or if we should have him looked at more meticulously.
He says he feels fine when hes over the bugs hes gotten and the doctors weve seen dont think its anything out of the norm for whats going around.
I realize i could be being a paranoid parent but i also know he has become sexually active with his girlfriend and wonder if he could have something like mononucleosis.
His weight loss concerned me but he has put on a few more lbs in only 4 days so im not sure what to think or do at rhis point.
He seems ok and definetly not close to being obviosly ill. Hes actually the opposite. He seems pretty healthy.
Maybe just a rough cold and flu season?
Your thought would be appreciated.
Brief Answer:
You should consider a mononucleosis in this situation.
Detailed Answer:
Hello! I have been through your question.
It is a good news that recently your son seems pretty healthy.
I read carefully all the above mentioned health history of your son and based on the recent symptoms( swollen cervical lymph nodes) and sexuall history I think you should consider the mononucleosis and I suggest to do your son an EBV IgG and IgM test in order to define better the diagnosis. Furthermore he should do as well an cervical and armpits ultrasound (to see for lymph nodes,) CBC, and abdominal ultrasound (to see the liver and spleen measures).
Related his weight loss after a food poisoning I think is a normal situation and you shouldn't worry. Usually to gain weight needs more time.
I hope my answer helps you.
I wish your son a good health. Feel free to ask me further.
Regards.
You should consider a mononucleosis in this situation.
Detailed Answer:
Hello! I have been through your question.
It is a good news that recently your son seems pretty healthy.
I read carefully all the above mentioned health history of your son and based on the recent symptoms( swollen cervical lymph nodes) and sexuall history I think you should consider the mononucleosis and I suggest to do your son an EBV IgG and IgM test in order to define better the diagnosis. Furthermore he should do as well an cervical and armpits ultrasound (to see for lymph nodes,) CBC, and abdominal ultrasound (to see the liver and spleen measures).
Related his weight loss after a food poisoning I think is a normal situation and you shouldn't worry. Usually to gain weight needs more time.
I hope my answer helps you.
I wish your son a good health. Feel free to ask me further.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
Brief Answer:
Yes these symptoms could be as a result of mononucleosis.
Detailed Answer:
Hello! Thank you for writing back in healthcaremagic.
Related your concern I think that based on these symptoms (fatigue, pain and swollen cervical lymph nodes) and in the epidemiological data (sexual history) this situation could be as a result of mononucleosis.
You should know as well that not always mononucleosis causes complications like liver and spleen enlargement and young children usually have few symptoms, and the infection often goes unrecognized.
Signs and symptoms of mononucleosis may include fatigue,sore throat, perhaps a strep throat that doesn't get better with antibiotic use, fever,swollen lymph nodes in the neck and armpits,swollen tonsils, headache.
The only way to find out if this is mononucleosis infection or not is to do a EBV test (IgM and IgG).
I hope my answer helps you.
I wish your son a good health. Feel free to ask me further.
Regards.
Yes these symptoms could be as a result of mononucleosis.
Detailed Answer:
Hello! Thank you for writing back in healthcaremagic.
Related your concern I think that based on these symptoms (fatigue, pain and swollen cervical lymph nodes) and in the epidemiological data (sexual history) this situation could be as a result of mononucleosis.
You should know as well that not always mononucleosis causes complications like liver and spleen enlargement and young children usually have few symptoms, and the infection often goes unrecognized.
Signs and symptoms of mononucleosis may include fatigue,sore throat, perhaps a strep throat that doesn't get better with antibiotic use, fever,swollen lymph nodes in the neck and armpits,swollen tonsils, headache.
The only way to find out if this is mononucleosis infection or not is to do a EBV test (IgM and IgG).
I hope my answer helps you.
I wish your son a good health. Feel free to ask me further.
Regards.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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