Swollen glands

Swollen lymph glands are usually a sign of infection. When an infection is the cause, they normally settle down by themselves in 1 to 2 weeks.

Sometimes, though, swollen glands have a more serious cause, and in that case you may need to see a doctor.

You have swollen glands and you:

• are finding it very difficult to swallow
• have difficulty breathing

See a doctor if you have swollen glands and:

• they're getting bigger
• they haven't gone down within 1 week
• they feel hard, or they don't move when you press them
• you're having night sweats, or you 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)

The lymph glands (also called lymph nodes) are small lumps of tissue that hold white blood cells. These cells help your body fight bacteria, viruses and anything else that causes infection. The glands are an important part of your immune system, and you'll find them all through the body.

Swollen glands, also called swollen lymph glands, can grow to more than a few centimetres when your body is fighting an infection or disease.

They feel like tender, painful lumps. You may notice them:

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

Swollen glands are usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection, such as:

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

The glands in the affected area often become tender or painful quite suddenly. You may have other symptoms too, like a sore throat, cough or fever. These infections usually clear up on their own, and the swollen glands soon go down.

Swollen lymph glands are rarely caused by something more serious, like cancer of the blood (leukaemia) or of the lymph system (lymphoma).

Swollen glands happen more often in people living with HIV. If yours haven't got better after 2 weeks and no other cause has been found, you should be offered an HIV test. If nobody has offered you one, you can:

• speak to your doctor about getting tested for HIV

A test at this point, when swollen glands have lasted 2 weeks and no other cause has been found, can help with early diagnosis, treatment and preventing passing the virus on.

If an infection is the reason your glands are swollen, there are things you can do at home to ease the symptoms.

• drink plenty of fluids
• rest
• use over-the-counter medicines like paracetamol or ibuprofen

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