Swollen lymph nodes are a sign that your body is fighting off an infection or an illness. Most of the time, they return to normal size when their job is done. Lymph nodes are round, bean-shaped glands, and you have them throughout your body. There are clusters of them in places like your neck, under your arm, and in the crease between your thigh and your torso (where your leg begins). You can sometimes feel these clusters as little bumps, especially if they're
swollen.
They're part of your lymphatic system. Along with your spleen, tonsils, and adenoids, they help protect you from harmful germs. The most common signs are: Tenderness or pain in your lymph nodes Swelling that makes your lymph
nodes the size of a kidney bean or possibly larger Because swollen lymph nodes are usually linked to some type of illness, you might also have other symptoms, depending on what that illness is: Runny nose, sore throat, or fever (caused by an upper respiratory
infection) Swelling of clusters of lymph nodes in different places in your body (caused by an infection or an immune system disorder, like rheumatoid arthritis) Hard lymph nodes that won’t move or get bigger quickly (signs of certain types of cancer) Lymph nodes have immune cells called lymphocytes in them. They attack bacteria, viruses, and other things that can make you sick. When you're fighting off harmful germs, your body makes more of those immune cells -- that causes the swelling. Your lymph nodes come across all kinds of germs, so they can be swollen for lots of reasons. Usually, it's something that's relatively easy to treat, like: Much less often, it can be a more serious illness. They can include: In most cases, swollen glands return to normal size after the illness or infection has passed. But here are some things to watch for: Glands that swelled up very suddenly Glands that are much larger than they should be, not just mildly swollen Glands that feel hard
or don't move when you push on them Glands that stay swollen for more than 5 days in children or 2 to 4 weeks in adults The area around the glands turns red or purple, it feels warm or you see pus Swelling in your arm or groin Sudden weight loss A fever that doesn't go away Night sweats If you notice any of these, see your doctor. Swollen Lymph Nodes DiagnosisYour doctor will start by asking you about your medical history and giving you a physical exam. They might be able to get an idea of what's making your glands swell by where they are in your body. They also may recommend one of these tests to find out more about what's going on:
Swollen Lymph Node Treatment and Home RemediesIf your swollen lymph nodes aren’t caused by something serious, they will go away on their own. A few things may help with any discomfort while you wait for it to run its course:
If something more serious is causing the swelling, treatment can include:
What does it mean when your lymph nodes hurt in your neck?Painful lymph nodes are generally a sign that your body is fighting an infection. The soreness usually goes away in a couple of days without treatment. The lymph node may not return to its normal size for several weeks.
When should you worry about a swollen lymph node?You don't need to worry about your swollen lymph nodes most of the time. But you should talk to your health care provider if your swollen glands: Feel hard and don't move around easily when you press on them. Grow bigger than one centimeter (or the size of a large pea)
What causes tender glands in the neck?Common causes of swollen glands
tonsillitis. glandular fever. a throat infection. an ear infection.
How serious is a swollen lymph node in the neck?Lymph nodes that are swollen but not tender can be signs of a serious problem. In some cases, the swollen lymph node will get smaller as other symptoms go away. If a lymph node is swollen and painful or if the swelling lasts more than a few days, also see a doctor.
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