The lymph nodes are an important part of our immune system because they help fight off germs and sickness.

But it can be a sign of something wrong if lymph nodes in the neck get swollen or hurt.

Most of the time, swollen lymph nodes are just a harmless sign of an illness. However, they can also be a sign of something more serious, like cancer.

When should you be worried about a lump in your neck, and what should you do about it?

To understand what lumps in the neck mean, you need to know how lymph nodes work.

Lymph nodes are small structures that look like beans. They filter lymph fluid to get rid of germs, waste, and cancer cells.

When you have an illness, your lymph nodes often get bigger as they try to trap and get rid of the pathogens that are invading your body.

Most of the time, this swelling means that the defence system is working well.

But sometimes large lymph nodes are a sign that something is wrong. If a lymph node gets hard, grows quickly, or comes with other symptoms like fever, weight loss, or pain, it could be a sign of a more serious health problem. In this situation, it’s very important to see a doctor to find out why the lymph node is swollen.

When you need to see a doctor

If you have a swollen lymph node in your neck, you should keep a close eye on it and see a doctor if any of the following happen:

Swelling that doesn’t go away for more than two weeks

Fever, weight loss, or pain that you can’t explain

A lymph gland that grows quickly or gets hard

Several large lymph nodes spread out in different body parts

How Doctors Tell If Lymph Nodes Are Swollen

If you go to the doctor with a swollen lymph node, they will do a physical check, ask about your medical history, and may suggest imaging tests or a biopsy to find out why the node is swelling.

Choices for Treatment

What you do to treat swollen lymph nodes depends on what’s causing them. If the swelling is caused by an infection, your doctor may give you medicines or suggest pain killers that you can buy without a prescription.

If the swelling is caused by an inflammatory disease, your doctor may suggest drugs that weaken the immune system or ease the symptoms.

If the swelling is caused by cancer, you may be able to get chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery to remove the lymph nodes that are swollen.

In conclusion

While swollen lymph nodes in the neck may be a sign of an illness, they are usually nothing to worry about. If you know what the symptoms and signs of swollen lymph nodes are and when to see a doctor, you can make sure that you get quick care and treatment if you need it.

Remember that you should see a doctor right away if you have a swollen lymph node that won’t go away, grows quickly, or is followed by other symptoms.