Swollen glands
Swollen glands
Swollen lymph glands are usually a sign that your body is fighting an infection. When this is the cause, the swelling usually settles on its own within 1 to 2 weeks.
Sometimes, though, swollen glands can point to something more serious, and it's worth having a doctor take a look.
What are the lymph glands?
Lymph glands, also called lymph nodes, are small lumps of tissue containing white blood cells. These cells help fight off bacteria, viruses and other germs that cause infection. They form an important part of your immune system and are found in many places throughout the body.
What swollen lymph glands feel like
When your body is responding to an infection or illness, these glands can swell to more than a few centimetres in size. They tend to feel like tender, painful lumps, and you may notice them:
- on either side of the neck
- under the chin
- in the armpits
- around the groin
Common Symptoms
Symptom information is not available for this condition yet.
⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.
Medicines Commonly Used
⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.
No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.
When to See a Doctor
Phone 111 or ask for an urgent GP appointment if:
You have swollen glands and you:
- are finding it very difficult to swallow
- have difficulty breathing
Speak to your GP practice if:
You have swollen glands and:
- they’re getting bigger
- they’ve not gone down within 1 week
- 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)
- you have 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)
Causes
Swollen glands usually happen because of a viral or bacterial infection, such as:
- a common cold
- tonsillitis
- glandular fever
- a throat infection
- an ear infection
- a dental abscess
- cellulitis (an infection of the skin)
The glands in the affected area often become tender or painful quite suddenly. You may also notice other symptoms alongside this, such as a sore throat, cough, or fever.
Most of these infections settle on their own, and the swelling in the glands goes down soon after.
Only rarely is swelling in the lymph glands caused by something more serious, such as cancer of the blood (leukaemia) or of the lymph system (lymphoma).
Swollen glands are also a health condition that tends to occur more often in people living with HIV. If your swollen glands haven't improved after 2 weeks and no other cause has been found, you should be offered an HIV test. If this hasn't been offered to you, you can:
- talk to your healthcare provider about getting tested for HIV
- get a free test through one of the available options
Getting tested for HIV in this situation, when swollen glands persist beyond 2 weeks with no clear cause, can help ensure early diagnosis, timely treatment, and can also help prevent passing the infection on to others.
Treatment
Swollen glands caused by an infection can usually be eased with simple care at home.
What you can do
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Get enough rest
- Take an over-the-counter medicine such as paracetamol or ibuprofen if needed