What does it mean if my lymph nodes are swollen

Swollen glands are a sign the body is fighting an infection. They usually get better by themselves within 2 weeks.

Table of Contents Show

Check if your glands are swollen
Things you can do yourself
Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:
Urgent advice: Get advice from 111 now if:
Causes of swollen glands
About swollen glands
Urgent advice: See your GP if you have swollen glands and:
Common causes of swollen glands
Treating swollen glands
Less common causes of swollen glands
Could it be cancer?
Is a swollen lymph node serious?
What is the most common cause of swollen lymph nodes?
What can cause swollen lymph nodes in neck?
Does a swollen lymph nodes go away?

Check if your glands are swollen

Swollen glands feel like tender, painful lumps:

on each side of the neck
under the chin
in the armpits
around the groin

Glands (known as lymph glands or lymph nodes) swell near an infection to help your body fight it.

Sometimes a gland on just one side of the body swells.

You might also have other symptoms, such as a sore throat, cough or high temperature.

Things you can do yourself

Swollen glands should go down within 2 weeks.

You can help to ease the symptoms by:

resting
drinking plenty of fluids (to avoid dehydration)
taking painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen (do not give aspirin to children under 16)

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:

your swollen glands are getting bigger or they have not gone down within 2 weeks
they feel hard or do not move when you press them
you're having night sweats or have a very high temperature (you feel hot and shivery) for more than 3 or 4 days
you have swollen glands and no other signs of illness or infection
you have swollen lymph glands just above or below your collar bone (the bone that runs from your breastbone to each of your shoulders)

Urgent advice: Get advice from 111 now if:

you have swollen glands and you're finding it very difficult to swallow

111 will tell you what to do. They can arrange a phone call from a nurse or doctor if you need one.

Go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111.

Other ways to get help

Get an urgent GP appointment

A GP may be able to treat you.

Ask your GP surgery for an urgent appointment.

Causes of swollen glands

Do not self-diagnose – see a GP if you're worried.

Swollen glands are:

often caused by common illnesses like colds, tonsillitis and ear or throat infections
sometimes caused by viral infections such as glandular fever
rarely caused by anything more serious, like cancer of the blood system (leukaemia) or lymph system (lymphoma)

A GP will be able to recommend treatment depending on the cause, which might include antibiotics (antibiotics do not work on viral infections).

Page last reviewed: 25 September 2020
Next review due: 25 September 2023

About swollen glands

Swollen lymph glands are usually a sign of infection and tend to go down when you recover. However, they can sometimes have a more serious cause and may need to be seen by a doctor.

Lymph glands (also called lymph nodes) are pea-sized lumps of tissue that contain white blood cells. These help to fight bacteria, viruses and anything else that causes infection. They are an important part of the immune system and are found throughout the body.

The glands can swell to more than a few centimetres in response to infection or disease. Swollen glands, known medically as lymphadenopathy, may be felt under the chin or in the neck, armpits or groin, where they can be found in larger clumps.

Many different types of infection can cause swollen glands, such as a cold or glandular fever. Less commonly, swollen glands may be caused by a non-infectious condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis or even cancer.

Urgent advice: See your GP if you have swollen glands and:

they haven't gone down within a few weeks or are getting bigger
they feel hard or don’t move when you press them
you also have a sore throat and find it difficult to swallow or breathe
you also have unexplained weight loss, night sweats or a persistent high temperature (fever)
you don't have an obvious infection and don't feel unwell

If necessary, your GP may request some tests to help identify the cause. These can include:

blood tests
an ultrasound scan
a computerised tomography (CT) scan
a biopsy (where a small sample of fluid is taken from the swelling and tested)

Common causes of swollen glands

Swollen glands are usually caused by a relatively minor viral or bacterial infection, including:

a cold
tonsillitis
glandular fever
a throat infection
an ear infection
a dental abscess
cellulitis (a skin infection)

The glands in the affected area will often become suddenly tender or painful. You may also have additional symptoms, such as a sore throat, cough, or fever.

These infections usually clear up on their own, and the swollen glands will soon go down.

Treating swollen glands

When an infection causes swollen glands you can help to ease symptoms at home by:

drinking plenty of fluids
resting
using over-the-counter medicines such as paracetamol or ibuprofen

Less common causes of swollen glands

Less often, swollen glands may be the result of:

rubella – a viral infection that causes a red-pink skin rash made up of small spots
measles – a highly infectious viral illness that causes distinctive red or brown spots on the skin
cytomegalovirus (CMV) – a common virus spread through bodily fluids, such as saliva and urine
tuberculosis (TB) – a bacterial infection spread that causes a persistent cough
syphilis – a bacterial infection usually caught by having sex with someone who is infected
cat scratch disease – a bacterial infection caused by a scratch from an infected cat
HIV – a virus that attacks the immune system and weakens your ability to fight infections
lupus – where the immune system starts to attack the body's joints, skin, blood cells and organs
rheumatoid arthritis – where the immune system starts to attack the tissue lining the joints
sarcoidosis – where small patches of red and swollen tissue, called granulomas, develop in the organs of the body

Could it be cancer?

Occasionally, swollen glands can be a sign of cancer that has started elsewhere in the body and spread to the lymph nodes, or a type of cancer affecting the white blood cells, such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma or chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

Swollen glands are more likely to be caused by cancer if they:

don't go away within a few weeks and slowly get bigger
are painless and firm or hard when you touch them
occur with other symptoms, such as night sweats and weight loss

See your GP if your glands have been swollen for more than a couple of weeks. The swelling is probably the result of a non-cancerous condition, but it's best to be sure by getting a proper diagnosis.

Last updated:
29 April 2022

Is a swollen lymph node serious?

Swollen lymph glands are usually a sign of infection and tend to go down when you recover. However, they can sometimes have a more serious cause and may need to be seen by a doctor. Lymph glands (also called lymph nodes) are pea-sized lumps of tissue that contain white blood cells.

What is the most common cause of swollen lymph nodes?

Infections are the most common cause of swollen lymph nodes. Infections that can cause them include: Abscessed or impacted tooth. Ear infection.

What can cause swollen lymph nodes in neck?

Swollen lymph nodes in the head and neck may also be caused by infections such as:.

ear infection..

sinus infection..

the flu..

strep throat..

mononucleosis (mono).

tooth infection, included an abscessed tooth..

skin infection..

Does a swollen lymph nodes go away?

Lymph node swelling will usually disappear once the infection clears. The swelling may also go away when the person takes prescribed medications, such as antibiotics or antivirals. Doctors may prescribe anti-inflammatory medication if a person has tissue swelling.