As a system of fighting off infections, filtering bacteria and trapping viruses when they enter your body, your lymph nodes are essential to determining the causes of illnesses before they can travel through other parts of your body. When your lymph nodes are exposed to bacteria or fighting off infections, they can temporarily swell and become tender.
Typically, swollen lymph nodes are not a cause for concern, but sometimes they can indicate a more serious health issue — which is why it’s a good idea to have your doctor check them out. Here’s what you need to know about swollen lymph nodes and why they might be dangerous.
What Causes a Swelling of the Lymph Nodes?
Your body contains more than 600 lymph nodes. Small and shaped like kidney beans, they’re located in clusters in your chest and belly, under your neck, in your groin area and in your armpits. By storing immune cells and working to filter out germs and other waste, they protect your body from infection. It’s common to notice swollen lymph nodes in the neck, chin, armpits and groin area.
When your lymph nodes swell, it means more immune cells and more waste are collecting in them — which indicates that they’re working hard to eliminate a threat to your body. Most often, swelling occurs when your lymphatic system is fighting off an infection — which is called lymphadenitis. In rare cases, however, swelling of the lymph nodes can be caused by other problems such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and even cancer.
Lymph nodes tend to swell in the area of the body where the problem is. If you have strep throat or bronchitis, for example, the lymph nodes in your neck might swell — whereas breast cancer could cause swelling in the armpit area. When your lymph nodes swell in various regions across your body, it can signal a more widespread condition. To rule out or diagnose serious diseases like HIV and different types of cancer, you should have a doctor examine your swollen lymph nodes.
Symptoms of Swollen Lymph Nodes
Depending on the nature of your infection or other issue, swelling of the lymph nodes can be accompanied by a variety of symptoms, including:
- Swollen lymph nodes the size of a kidney bean, pea or larger
- Pain and tenderness in the lymph node area
- Hard or quickly growing lymph nodes
- Fever
- Night sweats
When to See a Doctor About Swollen Lymph Nodes
Most swollen lymph nodes will return to their regular states and subside after the infection has passed. If you have a cold, upper respiratory illness or minor infection, you should notice the swelling going down as the condition heals. If they do not stop swelling or they continue to worsen, however, it’s vital to have them checked. See a doctor if your lymph nodes:
- Swell to half an inch or larger
- Become hard, rubbery or don’t move when you feel them with your fingers
- Appear for no obvious reason
- Appear irritated, red or warm
- Are accompanied by night sweats, weight loss or fever
- Do not subside after two weeks
When it comes to being proactive about your health, you should always be safe by checking with a doctor. For more information on swollen lymph nodes and cancer, contact Dr. Mark Fraiman today.
This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Mark Fraiman on April 18, 2019.
