My son just showed me this painful lump on the side of his neck. It appeared overnight and he is really scared. The pediatrician is closed for the weekend. Any advice?

The lump wasn’t there yesterday. Now it is, sudden and terrifying, and the pediatrician’s office is closed. Your child is scared. You’re trying not to be. Is this “just” a swollen gland… or something far worse? How long is it safe to watch and wait? Which tiny change means drop everything and run to the ER rig… Continues…

A sudden neck lump on your child can feel like your whole world tilting, but most causes are treatable and time-sensitive emergencies are the exception, not the rule. Start by grounding yourself: speak calmly, hold your child, and explain that many neck lumps are simply swollen lymph nodes reacting to common infections. Gently feel the lump and compare both sides of the neck; a small, soft, movable, mildly tender lump in an otherwise well child can usually wait for the pediatrician, as long as you keep a close eye on it.