Swollen Lymph Nodes (Swollen Glands), Opens dialog

Common Sites of Swollen Lymph Nodes, Opens dialog

Molluscum contagiosum, Opens dialog

Chickenpox rash, Opens dialog

Overview

Most swollen glands or lumps under the skin aren't cause for concern. The glands (lymph nodes) on either side of the neck, under the jaw, or behind the ears often swell when you have a cold or sore throat.

More serious infections may cause the glands to get bigger and become very firm and tender. Glands can also swell (Figure 1) and become tender after an injury, such as a cut or bite, or when a tumour or infection occurs in the mouth, head, or neck.

Swollen glands (Figure 2) and other lumps under the skin can be caused by many different things, including illness, infection, or another cause.

Infections

Swollen glands often occur when the body fights infections from colds, insect bites, or small cuts. More serious infections may cause the glands to get bigger and become firm, hard, or tender. Examples of such infections include:

• Bacterial infections, such as:
  • Strep throat. It's caused by streptococcus bacteria.
  • A boil (abscess), similar to a large pimple. A boil may form when a hair follicle or the skin gets infected. A sweat gland abscess may form one or more lumps in the armpit that look like boils.
• Viral infections, such as:
  • A viral infection of the skin (molluscum contagiosum (Figure 3)) that causes small pearly or flesh-coloured bumps.
  • Measles, rubella, chickenpox (Figure 4), or mumps.
  • AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). It develops in the late stage of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection. This virus attacks the immune system. It makes it hard for the body to fight off infection and some diseases.
  • Mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr virus) or cytomegalovirus (CMV). These viruses cause fever, sore throat, and fatigue.
• Other infections, such as:
  • Lyme disease. This is an infection that's spread by certain types of ticks.
  • Syphilis. It's a sexually transmitted infection.

Non-cancerous (benign) growths

Types of non-cancerous (benign) growths, which are usually harmless, include:

• A lipoma. This is a smooth, rubbery, dome-shaped lump that you can easily move under the skin.
• A cyst. It's a sac of fluid and debris that sometimes hurts.
  • Cystic lesions from acne are large pimples that occur deep under the skin.
  • Branchial cleft cysts are found in the neck. They don't usually cause problems unless they get infected. These cysts are most common in teens.
  • A skin cyst often appears on the scalp, ears, face, or back.
  • A ganglion is a soft, rubbery lump (a type of cyst) on the front or back of the wrist.
• Tonsillitis. It may also cause swelling in the neck.
• A salivary gland problem, such as inflammation, a salivary stone, an infection, or a tumour.
• An inflammation of fatty tissue under the skin (erythema nodosum) or overgrown scar tissue (keloid).

Hernias, aneurysms, or nodules

Hernias and aneurysms are bulging sections in a muscle or blood vessel. A nodule is usually a growth on a gland. A hernia, aneurysm, or nodule may be felt under the skin. But you may not be able to see it. These types of lumps may need to be checked by a doctor.

• An inguinal hernia is a soft lump in the groin or near the navel. It may be more visible when you cough. Hernias that disappear when you press on them may not need any treatment. Hernias that don't disappear when you press on them may be more serious and need medical treatment.
• A bulging section in the wall of a blood vessel (aneurysm) may feel like a throbbing lump in the belly, in the groin, or behind the knee. It can cause serious problems if it involves the blood vessels in the brain or the belly. Aneurysms may be a medical emergency and may require care right away.
• A thyroid nodule is an abnormal growth on the thyroid gland. An enlarged thyroid gland (goiter) is in the neck just below the Adam's apple.

Swelling caused by cancer

A lump caused by cancer is usually hard, irregularly shaped, and firmly fixed under the skin or deep in tissue. They usually don't cause pain. But some types of cancerous lumps are painful. Most lumps aren't caused by cancer.

Other causes

Swelling may also be caused by:

• A side effect of a medicine, such as phenytoin (Dilantin).
• Other medical conditions and diseases, such as lupus, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, or rheumatoid arthritis.

Figure 1 - Swollen Lymph Nodes (Swollen Glands)

Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped structures in the body that are sometimes incorrectly called "glands." They are part of the lymphatic system, which carries lymph fluid, nutrients, and waste material between the body tissues and the bloodstream. The lymphatic system is part of the immune system, which is the body's defense system against disease.

Lymph nodes are found singly or in groups. They may be as small as the head of a pin or as large as an olive. Groups of lymph nodes can be felt in the neck, groin, and underarms. Many lymph nodes in the body cannot be felt.

When a part of the body is infected, the nearby lymph nodes can become swollen. For example, if a person has a throat infection, the lymph nodes in the neck may swell and become tender.

Current as of: September 27, 2023

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

Figure 2 - Common Sites of Swollen Lymph Nodes

The three most common sites of swollen lymph nodes are the neck, armpit, and groin.

Current as of: September 27, 2023

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

Figure 3 - Molluscum contagiosum

Molluscum contagiosum is a viral infection of the skin that causes small pearly or flesh-coloured bumps. The bumps may be red and inflamed, and are often indented.

The bumps can appear anywhere on the body that the virus contacts the skin, except for the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. In sexually active teens and young adults, the bumps are usually located in the genital area.

Current as of: November 16, 2023

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

Figure 4 - Chickenpox rash

Chickenpox (varicella) is a contagious illness that causes an itchy rash and red spots or blisters (pox) all over the body. It takes about 1 or 2 days for a chickenpox red spot (macule) to go through all of its stages. This includes blistering, bursting, drying, and crusting over. New red spots appear every day for up to 5 to 7 days.

Current as of: April 30, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.