Swollen Lymph Nodes

Swollen lymph nodes can be a sign of a minor disease like strep throat, or an indication of a serious disease such as AIDS or cancer. Be sure to see your doctor if you have swollen lymph nodes.

About Swollen Lymph Nodes

Lymph nodes often swell in one location when a problem such as an injury, infection, or tumor develops in or near the lymph node. In order to identify the problem, you have to be able to tell which lymph nodes are swollen.

The glands on either side of the neck, under the jaw, or behind the ears commonly swell when you have a cold or sore throat. These glands can also swell following an injury, such as a cut or bite, near the gland or when a tumor or infection occurs in the mouth, head, or neck.Glands in the armpit or the axillary lymph nodes may swell from an injury or infection to the arm or hand however, a rare cause of axillary swelling may be breast cancer or lymphoma.

The lymph nodes in the groin or the femoral or inguinal lymph nodes may swell from an injury or infection in the foot, leg, groin, or genitals. But, in rare cases, testicular cancer, lymphoma, or melanoma may cause a lump in this area.

Glands above the collarbone or the supraclavicular lymph nodes may swell from an infection or tumor in the areas of the lungs, breasts, neck, or abdomen.Some common sites for swollen lymph nodes include the neck, groin, and underarms.When lymph nodes swell in two or more areas of the body, it is called generalized lymphadenopathy.

Some causes of swollen lymph nodes:
*A viral illness, such as measles, rubella, chickenpox (varicella), or mumps.
*Mononucleosis or the Epstein-Barr virus, which results in fever, sore throat, and fatigue, or cytomegalovirus (CMV), a viral infection that causes symptoms similar to those of mononucleosis.
*A bacterial illness, such as strep throat which is caused by the streptococcus bacterium or Lyme disease which is a bacterial infection spread by certain types of ticks.
*Side effects of phenytoin (Dilantin), a medicine used to prevent seizures.
*Side effects of the measles mumps rubella (MMR) vaccination.
*Cancer, such as leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, and non Hodgkin's lymphoma.
(Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), which develops after contracting HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). This virus attacks the immune system and it makes it difficult for the body to fight off infection and some disease.
*Syphilis, which is a sexually transmitted disease.

-Treatment for swollen lymph nodes-
Treatment usually focuses on treating the cause. For example, a bacterial infection may be treated with antibiotics, while a viral infection usually goes away on its own. But, if cancer is suspected, a biopsy may be done to confirm the diagnosis.

Lymph nodes may remain swollen or firm long after an initial infection is gone. This is especially true in children, whose glands may decrease in size while remaining firm and visible for many weeks. Any swollen lymph nodes that don't go away on their own or return to normal size over about a month should be checked by your doctor.

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