Management of enlarged cervical lymph nodes

The child presenting with enlarged lymph nodes is a common problem in paediatric practice. Most enlarged lymph nodes are caused by a response to a benign local, or generalized infection; very few are due to more serious conditions (e.g. malignancy). This contribution aims to provide a simple and pragmatic approach based on careful clinical history and examination to elucidate the cause in most cases, and help identify worrying features that warrant prompt investigation.