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Neck Pain, Reddish Swollen Neck, Night Sweats, Cough, On Antibiotics, History Of Dysplasia

Posted on Wed, 6 Jun 2012

Question: My 25 yr old son last December had severe neck pain on one side. It was swollen and red up into his check. He did not have a high fever. He was treated immediately for staff infection but I never felt that was a sealed diagnosis. He was treated with very heavy antiotics for 2 weeks and was amitted for one week. A Cat Scan was done and showed some abnormalities but were unclear as to what those abnormalities were. These symptoms have returned now in Sept with others. He has had persperation problems for some times but his night sweats have gotten terrible. He has to get up and change clothes and his sheets. He's very tired a lot. He works hard but it just seems he is always tired. He has been having chest pains about once a week. He has a very XXXXXXX voice and his voice is scratchy and squeeky with a cough. They are trying to treat him for a staff again and I am not satisfied that's what this is. He also has a history of several places excised from his skin when he was 12 that all showed Dysplasia. One was underneath his wrist and was the size of a golf ball. He was born with these. Do you think we need to look further for answers, and if we do where? MD XXXXXXX received his information today and is evaluating his case.

Answered by Dr. Indranil Ghosh (7 hours later)

Hello.

Thanks for posting the query.

The initial presentation of your son was more like a bacterial infection (pain, swelling and redness). As the symptoms abated with antibiotics it is again suggestive of infection.

But, now you have said that the symptoms have returned, though you have not mentioned anything about the neck swelling. Are the neck swellings there now also? Terrible night sweats are definitely of concern and should not be taken lightly.

I think, he needs evaluation by CT scans of neck, chest and abdomen, blood count and chemistries. Depending on these reports we can proceed further. Your son is at the able hands of physicians from MD XXXXXXX and I am sure they will find out the root cause of all these problems.

Regarding the subcutaneous swellings since birth, I think they are probably benign and unrelated to the present condition.

I hope, I have answered your query.

I will be available for follow up queries if any.

Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Jyoti Patil

Follow up: Dr. Indranil Ghosh (16 hours later)

The swelling in his neck has returned and he now running fever. He has not had any weight loss. One thing the blood tests showed was an elevated white count. They explained they were not the white cells that fight an infection, and should be further investigated, and they left it at that.

Answered by Dr. Indranil Ghosh (1 hour later)

Hi,
Thanks for the follow up.

The symptoms you are reporting can be because of either infection or a hematological malignancy.

The fact that the increased white cells are looking abnormal points toward a malignancy. He should be immediately investigated with lymph node biopsy may also be necessary.

These conditions are mostly treatable at this age and I hope the physicians will soon reach the correct diagnosis and initiate appropriate treatment.

Wishing you good health.

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Radhika