Swollen lymph nodes

Symptoms

The lymph system is a network of organs, vessels and lymph nodes throughout the body. Many lymph nodes are in the head and neck. Lymph nodes there often swell. Swelling can be to the size of a pea or kidney bean or larger.

Swollen lymph nodes are a sign that something is wrong in the body. The nodes might also be tender and painful.

Depending on the cause of the swollen lymph nodes, other symptoms might include:

• Runny nose, sore throat or cough.
• Swelling of lymph nodes all through the body. When this occurs, it might be because of an infection, such as HIV or mononucleosis, or an immune system condition, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.
• Hard, fast-growing nodes that don't move when pushed. These might be because of cancer of the lymph system, called lymphoma, or other cancer.
• Fever.
• Night sweats.

Causes

Lymph nodes are small, round or bean-shaped bunches of cells. Inside lymph nodes are a mix of types of immune system cells. These cells filter the lymph fluid as it goes through the body and protect the body from invaders.

Lymph nodes are in groups. Each group drains an area of the body. It might be easier to tell if there's swelling in certain areas. These include the lymph nodes in the neck, under the chin, and in the armpits and groin. Where the swollen lymph nodes are might give a clue to the cause of the swelling.

The most common cause of swollen lymph nodes is an infection, usually viral, such as the common cold. Sometimes the cause isn't found.

Other causes of swollen lymph nodes include:

Common infections

• Strep throat.
• Measles.
• Ear infections.
• Infected tooth.
• Mononucleosis.
• Skin or wound infections, such as cellulitis.
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS.

Less common infections

• Tuberculosis.
• Certain sexually transmitted infections, such as syphilis.
• An infection with a parasite called toxoplasmosis. It comes from contact with the feces of an infected cat or by eating meat that is not cooked well enough.
• A bacterial infection from a cat scratch or bite, called cat scratch fever.

Immune system disorders

• Lupus. This ongoing, disease, or chronic disease, causes swelling and irritation. Swelling and irritation also is called inflammation. Lupus can affect the joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, heart and lungs.
• Rheumatoid arthritis. This chronic disease causes inflammation in the tissue that lines the joints. The tissue is called synovium.
• Sarcoidosis. This chronic disease causes the growth of tiny groups of inflammatory cells called granulomas. They occur most often in the lungs and lymph nodes.

Cancers

• Lymphoma. This cancer starts in the lymph system.
• Leukemia. This is cancer of the body's blood-forming tissue. This includes the bone marrow and lymph system.
• Other cancers that have spread, called metastasized, to lymph nodes.

Other possible but rare causes include certain medicines, such as the anti-seizure medicine phenytoin (Dilantin) and medicines that prevent malaria. Silicone breast implants also can cause swollen lymph nodes.

Complications

When an infection that causes swollen lymph nodes isn't treated, a collection of pus may form. These are called abscesses. Pus contains fluid, white blood cells, dead tissue, and bacteria or other invaders. An abscess might need to be drained and treated with an antibiotic.

Treatment

The swelling of lymph nodes caused by a virus usually goes down after the virus goes away. Antibiotics don't help viral infections. Treatment for swollen lymph nodes from other causes depends on the cause.

• Infection. The usual treatment for swollen lymph nodes caused by a bacterial infection is antibiotics. Swollen lymph nodes that are due to an HIV infection will need treatment for HIV.
• Immune disorder. Treatment for swollen lymph nodes from conditions such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis targets the cause.
• Cancer. Swollen nodes caused by cancer require treatment for the cancer. Depending on the type of cancer, treatment may involve surgery, radiation or chemotherapy.

Preparing for your appointment

You'll likely start by first seeing your family healthcare professional. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment.

What you can do

Make a list of:

• Your symptoms and when they started. Include every symptom that you've had since your lymph nodes began to swell.
• Possible sources of infection. These may include travel abroad, hiking in areas known to have ticks, eating undercooked meat, being scratched by a cat, or having high-risk sex or sex with a new partner.
• Key medical information, including other conditions you have. List all medicines, vitamins and supplements you take, including doses.
• List questions to ask at your appointment.

For swollen lymph nodes, some basic questions to ask include:

• What's causing my symptoms?
• What are other possible causes for my symptoms?
• What tests do I need?
• Can I infect others? How can I lower the risk?
• How can I prevent this from happening again?

What to expect from your doctor

Questions your healthcare professional might ask include:

• Have your lymph nodes gotten larger over time?
• Are your lymph nodes tender?
• What, if anything, makes your symptoms worse?
• What makes your symptoms better?
• Have you had regular cancer screenings, such as mammograms?

What you can do in the meantime

While you wait for your appointment, if your swollen nodes are painful, try using warm compresses. And you can take a pain reliever you can get without a prescription, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others).