Q: There are two enlarged nodes in the occipetal area (back of head) of my one-year-old son. Similar nodes are also noted on the back of his ears. He often scratches these nodes. He remains ill and suffers from fever and cold every ten days. He had febrile seizures two months ago. He passes stool and urine comfortably and his eating habits are also good. He weighs 9 kg. He is not able to walk without support as yet. What is the cause and treatment for these nodes?

A:These swellings are lymph glands. They are like sentries in our body trying to contain local infection. They increase in size if there is local infection and once the infection subsides, the swellings become smaller in size. They never completely disappear. In little babies it may be because of scalp infection or other things like dandruff. If the swellings continue to increase in size or new swellings appear, you need to consult a doctor.