Brendan and I were snuggling in bed this morning and he turned his head and I noticed he has a knot behind his left ear. It is not red so it doesn't leave me to believe it is a bite of some sort. It is about nickel size, hard, and moves.

Has anyone seen anything like this before? I will be taking him to the doctor if it's not gone by tomorrow but for now I'm a little freaked out.

Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks.

By Emily7 on Thursday, May 27, 2004 - 11:07 am:

I have never heard of that, but then my parenting experience is limited to 26 months.

Could it be a fatty tumor? Do kids get those? I had a P.E. teacher that a them.

By Ginny~moderator on Thursday, May 27, 2004 - 12:15 pm:

Sounds like the cysts I have behind my ears. They are usually no problem at all, but once in a great while (about once in 15 years or so) one will get swollen and possibly infected and need lancing and draining (3 times that I remember). At one point one was a real problem and I had to have it removed surgically. I have had cysts behind my years for at least 35 years and maybe longer and I repeat, usually they are no problem at all.

One thing, however. My doctors have advised me that because I have cysts behind my ears (and a few small ones on my ear lobes occasionally) that I should never have my ears pierced because of a greater than usual risk of infection.

I should say that my family as a whole is prone to the development of cysts, including fatty cell cysts, and they are almost never a problem though sometimes a nuisance.

By Amy~moderator on Thursday, May 27, 2004 - 02:10 pm:

It could also be a swollen lymph node. Believe it or not, you have lymph nodes all over your body!

By Tunnia on Thursday, May 27, 2004 - 03:06 pm:

I got these all the time as a child and still get them from time to time, especially if I have a cold. They are swollen lymph nodes and they do not hurt. If you are worried, then just give your doctor a call to ease your mind.

By Christylee on Thursday, May 27, 2004 - 11:20 pm:

Thanks for the reassurance on this guys. I showed it to DH when he got home and I made an appointment for him with the dr tomorrow. (he needs to go anyways for a daycare form and a chicken pox vaccine) I'll let you all know what they tell me.

By Marcia on Thursday, May 27, 2004 - 11:37 pm:

One of my kids has had one behind one ear all of her life. I get it checked each time she goes to the doc, and I'm always told it's a lymph node. I can also feel them at the very top of her leg,right along the panty line. She's very thin, so I think that's why they're so obvious.
I wouldn't worry too much about it, but I would check it out for peace of mind.

By Tink on Thursday, May 27, 2004 - 11:59 pm:

My dd gets these behind her ear and along the jawline. They flare up about twice a year and the Dr said they are her lymph nodes and they are more obvious because she is so thin. She will give her a mild dose of antibiotics if she thinks it is necessary but they usually go away in the same length of time whether we get them or not. Glad you are having it checked out but I wouldn't be too worried.