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</div><div><span>Swollen lymph nodes</span></div></div>
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</a><h1 class="with-also" itemprop="name">Swollen lymph nodes</h1>
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</noscript></div><div class="main"><div id="ency_summary"><p>Lymph nodes are present throughout your body. They are an important part of your immune system. Lymph nodes help your body recognize and fight germs, infections, and other foreign substances.</p><p>The term "swollen glands" refers to enlargement of one or more lymph nodes. The medical name for swollen lymph nodes is lymphadenopathy.</p><p>In a child, a lymph node is considered enlarged if it is more than 1 centimeter (0.4 inch) wide.</p></div><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Considerations</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-1" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-1"><div class="videobox"><div class="group"><img class="rollover_globals" alt="Lymph nodes" title="Lymph nodes" src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/24508t.gif"/>Watch this video about:<a class="blk" href="../anatomyvideos/000083.htm">Lymph nodes</a></div></div><p>Common areas where the lymph nodes can be felt (with the fingers) include:</p><ul><li>Groin</li><li>Armpit</li><li>Neck (there is a chain of lymph nodes on either side of the front of the neck, both sides of the neck, and down each side of the back of the neck)</li><li>Under the jaw and chin</li><li>Behind the ears</li><li>On the back of the head </li></ul><img title="Swollen glands" alt="Swollen glands" src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/fullsize/9014.jpg" class="img-e" itemprop="image"/></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Causes</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-2" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-2"><p>Infections are the most common cause of swollen lymph nodes. Infections that can cause them include:</p><ul><li><a test="test" href="./001060.htm">Abscessed</a> or <a test="test" href="./001057.htm">impacted tooth</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./001336.htm">Ear infection</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./000678.htm">Colds</a>, <a test="test" href="./000080.htm">flu</a>, and other infections</li><li>Swelling (inflammation) of gums (<a test="test" href="./001056.htm">gingivitis</a>)</li><li><a test="test" href="./000591.htm">Mononucleosis</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./003059.htm">Mouth sores</a></li><li>Sexually transmitted illness (STI)</li><li><a test="test" href="./001043.htm">Tonsillitis</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./000077.htm">Tuberculosis</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./000855.htm">Skin infections</a></li></ul><p>Immune or autoimmune disorders that can cause swollen lymph nodes are:</p><ul><li><a test="test" href="./000594.htm">HIV</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./000431.htm">Rheumatoid arthritis</a> (RA) </li></ul><p>Cancers that can cause swollen lymph nodes include:</p><ul><li><a test="test" href="./001299.htm">Leukemia</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./000580.htm">Hodgkin disease</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./000581.htm">Non-Hodgkin lymphoma</a></li></ul><p>Many other cancers may also cause swollen lymph nodes.</p><p>Certain medicines can cause swollen lymph nodes, including:</p><ul><li>Seizure medicines, such as phenytoin</li><li>Typhoid <a test="test" href="./002024.htm">immunization</a></li></ul><p>Which lymph nodes are swollen depends on the cause and the body parts involved. Swollen lymph nodes that appear suddenly and are painful are usually due to injury or infection. Slow, painless swelling may be due to cancer or a tumor. </p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Home Care</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-3" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-3"><p>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. </p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>When to Contact a Medical Professional</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-4" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-4"><p>Contact your health care provider if:</p><ul><li>Your lymph nodes do not get smaller after several weeks or they continue to get larger.</li><li>They are red and tender.</li><li>They feel hard, irregular, or fixed in place.</li><li>You have fever, night sweats, or unexplained weight loss.</li><li>Any node in a child is larger than 1 centimeter (0.4 inch) in diameter. </li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>What to Expect at Your Office Visit</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-5" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-5"><p>Your provider will perform a physical examination and ask about your medical history and symptoms. Examples of questions that may be asked include:</p><ul><li>When the swelling began</li><li>If the swelling came on suddenly</li><li>Whether any lymph nodes are painful when pressed</li></ul><p>The following tests may be done:</p><ul><li>Blood tests, including <a test="test" href="./003436.htm">liver function tests</a>, <a test="test" href="./003435.htm">kidney function tests</a>, and <a test="test" href="./003642.htm">CBC</a> with <a test="test" href="./003657.htm">differential</a></li><li>Lymph node <a test="test" href="./003416.htm">biopsy</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./003804.htm">Chest x-ray</a></li><li>CT scan of the abdomen</li></ul><p>Treatment depends on the cause of the swollen nodes.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Alternative Names</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-Alt" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-Alt"><p>Swollen glands; Glands - swollen; Lymph nodes - swollen; Lymphadenopathy</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section sec-mb"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Images</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-tnails" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/1104t.jpg" alt="Lymphatic system" title="Lymphatic system" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/1104.htm">Lymphatic system</a></li>
<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/17267t.jpg" alt="Infectious mononucleosis" title="Infectious mononucleosis" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/17267.htm">Infectious mononucleosis</a></li>
<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/19079t.jpg" alt="Circulation of lymph" title="Circulation of lymph" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/19079.htm">Circulation of lymph</a></li>
<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/19672t.jpg" alt="Lymphatic system" title="Lymphatic system" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/19672.htm">Lymphatic system</a></li>
<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/9014t.jpg" alt="Swollen glands" title="Swollen glands" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/9014.htm">Swollen glands</a></li>
<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/9554t.jpg" alt="Lymph tissue in the head and neck" title="Lymph tissue in the head and neck" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/9554.htm">Lymph tissue in the head and neck</a></li>
</ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>References</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-Ref" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-Ref"><p>Tower RL, Camitta BM. Lymphadenopathy. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. <em>Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics.</em> 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 517.</p><p>Winter JN. Approach to the patient with lymphadenopathy or splenomegaly. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. <em>Goldman-Cecil Medicine</em>. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 154.</p></div></div></section>
<section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Review Date 2/8/2024</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-version" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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<div id="section-version" class="section-body"><p>Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. </p>
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