Swollen lymph nodes of neck

Swollen lymph nodes are signs of infection in the body. An infection in the upper respiratory tract or in the mouth can cause swelling in lymph nodes of the neck region. They can vary in size, from small as a pea to as large as a cherry. Major symptoms involve fever, sore throat and pain in the neck. The doctor may recommend certain tests to identify the exact cause of infection and provide treatment to the patient as per the diagnosis.
Lymph nodes are part of the lymphatic system, a component of immune system. Lymph nodes are small cluster of lymphocytic cells which produce antibodies and macrophages which digest the debris and infectious agents in the body.
These are major sites where foreign substances and infectious agents interact with cells of the immune system. Swollen lymph nodes indicate signs of infection in the body.
There are a large number of causes due to which lymph nodes of neck may enlarge. These include:
Infection: An infection in the body can lead to an increase in white blood cells concentration and cause swelling in lymph nodes of the neck. This infection can be due to any bacterial, fungal or viral species.
Inflammation: Inflammation in a given region of lymph node may occur due to an infection or due to an immune disorder such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. This causes lymph nodes to swell throughout the body.
Cancer: Infiltration with malignant cells brought along with the flowing lymph to the lymph node causes a swollen lump node. It can also lead to a lump on back of neck. It majorly occurs due to uncontrolled multiplication of malignant lymphocytic cells.
Other common causes of swollen lymph nodes include:
•Allergic reactions due to medication
•Cat scratch fever
•Gingivitis
•Hodgkin’s disease
•Non-Hodgkin’s disease
•Mouth sores
•Measles
•Tonsillitis
•Tuberculosis
Symptoms of swollen lymph nodes
The most common symptoms experienced during swollen lymph nodes involve:
•Sore throat
•They can be painful while touching or moving the neck or head
•Pain can be experienced during chewing and swallowing of food
•Fever
•Redness or streaking of skin
•A lump on back of neck can also be seen
•Internal inflammation and edema
•Painful and tender nodes under skin of neck
Diagnosis of swollen lymph nodes
The lymph nodes which are rapidly growing over the past 2 or 3 days may have different causes and require different treatment than those which have a generalised swelling over a past few months. When you visit a doctor with associated symptoms, the doctor may carry out the following steps:
•Your doctor will ask about the associated symptoms and carry out a physical examination of your neck.
•Depending upon your condition, the doctor may perform certain blood tests.
•The doctor may carry out imagining tests such as X-ray or MRI scan.
•A biopsy of the lymph node may be carried out or a portion of the lymph node may be removed for examination. This involves examination of the tissue under a microscope to identify the cause of swelling. It is carried out by a pathologist.
Treatment of swollen lymph nodes
In some cases, lymph nodes may reduce on their own and may not require any medical treatment. They can be treated by any of these ways:
•The doctor may recommend certain pain killers and analgesic such as ibuprofen, aspirin and acetaminophen. This will help reduce pain and inflammation in the neck.
•Doctor may prescribe certain antibiotics or antiviral medication to reduce the infection in lymph nodes.
•Home remedies such as compresses and elevation may help reduce and resolve swelling.
•If there is a localised sack of infection on the neck, it should be drained by cutting open the skin. It involves draining of the infected fluids and then filling the opening with packing.
•If the swelling occurred due to malignancy, the treatment may involve surgery, radiation or chemotherapy.
•If swelling in lymph node occurred due to an immune disorder, then the doctor may prescribe medication to help cure the disease.