Lymph Glands Swollen

What are lymph glands?

What causes swollen lymph glands?

Lymph glands are normally pea-sized. You can sometimes feel some under the skin. Lymph glands under the skin become more noticeable and easier to feel if they swell. They can swell to the size of marbles or even bigger. (You cannot see or feel lymph glands deeper in the chest or abdomen if they swell.)

Causes of swollen lymph glands include the following:

Infection - the common cause

The lymph glands near to an infection swell quickly and become tender as the immune system 'fights off' infecting germs (bacteria, virus, etc). The lymph glands usually go back to their normal 'pea size' when the infection is over. It can take a week or so for them to gradually go back to normal after the infection. Examples include the following:

• Throat infections and tonsillitis may cause lymph glands in the neck to swell.
• Skin infections of the arm may cause lymph glands in the armpit to swell.
• Infections of the leg or genitals may cause lymph glands in the groin to swell.
• Virus infections such as glandular fever affect the whole body. You may then develop swollen lymph glands in various parts of the body such as the neck, armpit and groins.

Cancers, lymphomas and leukaemias - are less common causes

A cancer can 'seed' (spread) to nearby lymph glands. The cancer then grows in the lymph gland and causes it to swell. For example:

• Breast cancer may seed to the lymph glands in the armpit.
• Throat cancer may seed to lymph glands in the neck.
• Lung and gut cancers may seed to lymph glands that you usually cannot see or feel in the abdomen and chest.
• Cancer of the lymphatic and blood systems (lymphomas and leukaemias) can cause many lymph glands to swell.

As a rule, swollen lymph glands due to cancers, lymphomas and leukaemias develop more slowly than those due to infections. They also tend to be painless at first.

Rare causes

Include reactions to certain drugs, glycogen storage diseases, Kawasaki disease, sarcoidosis and certain forms of arthritis.

What is the treatment for swollen lymph glands?

The treatment depends on the cause. Swollen lymph glands are like a 'marker' of various conditions, all with different outlooks and treatments. So, for example, the common cause is due to a viral infection when no specific treatment may be advised. However, swollen lymph glands caused by a cancer, lymphoma or leukaemia may need quite extensive treatment.

What should I do if I find swollen lymph glands?

Swollen lymph glands due to virus infections are common. For example, lymph glands in the neck may go 'up and down' if you have frequent throat infections. This is of little concern. Swollen lymph glands are more of a concern if there is no apparent reason for them to swell. Tell your doctor if:

• You find swollen lymph glands and you do not know why they have swollen. For example, you do not have an infection to cause them to swell.
• Swollen lymph glands due to an infection do not go down again within two weeks.