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How Should A Large Swollen Node On The Neck Under The Ear Be Managed?
Question: My mother in law has a large swollen node on her neck right under her ear. It's reddish and is more than one inch in size. How dangerous is her case and what type of medical treatment she requires? She live in another country and sent me a photo showing the enlarged swelling in her neck and I am very concerned about her condition
Brief Answer:
Seems to be due to face ,neck or middle ear / madtoid infection.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Lymph nodes are small bean shaped things which help in our body protection by removing harmful things from body. They are spread all over the body.. So generalized enlargement of lymph nodes suggest a problem with immune system and enlargement of peculiar lymph nodes are due to local infection (bacterial or viral)in the drained area by the node. In your mother in laws case it seems to be due to viral or bacterial infection in neck (tonsils), face (infected acne ) or middle ear / madtoid bone mostly associated with pain, inflammation, fever or chills.
*In such condition she needs to be checked by her family physician to evaluate the cause followed by prescription of a suitable antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drug to control the basic cause as well as swelling below ear. Expert opinion of an ENT surgeon may be advised.
*Sudden swelling needs to be checked to exclude possibility of malignancy (symptomless, hard enlargement.)
*Till she meets her doctor, if It's very painful. She can take rest, eat healthy diet, drink lot of water. Take anti-inflammatory pill over the counter for relief, she should not try to manipulate / puncture the swelling or ear. She can do hot saline garbled if there is throat pain.
I hope that answers your query. Any follow up query is welcome. Thanks.
Seems to be due to face ,neck or middle ear / madtoid infection.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Lymph nodes are small bean shaped things which help in our body protection by removing harmful things from body. They are spread all over the body.. So generalized enlargement of lymph nodes suggest a problem with immune system and enlargement of peculiar lymph nodes are due to local infection (bacterial or viral)in the drained area by the node. In your mother in laws case it seems to be due to viral or bacterial infection in neck (tonsils), face (infected acne ) or middle ear / madtoid bone mostly associated with pain, inflammation, fever or chills.
*In such condition she needs to be checked by her family physician to evaluate the cause followed by prescription of a suitable antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drug to control the basic cause as well as swelling below ear. Expert opinion of an ENT surgeon may be advised.
*Sudden swelling needs to be checked to exclude possibility of malignancy (symptomless, hard enlargement.)
*Till she meets her doctor, if It's very painful. She can take rest, eat healthy diet, drink lot of water. Take anti-inflammatory pill over the counter for relief, she should not try to manipulate / puncture the swelling or ear. She can do hot saline garbled if there is throat pain.
I hope that answers your query. Any follow up query is welcome. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for the quick response.
I am wondering if you had seen the photo I included with my original inquiry as I have not seen any mention of that in your response.
Actually I was hoping for a more specific answer as to how dangerous is her case and as to what type of treatment she can use.
Please note she is living in the village too far off from any hospital. I forgot to mention in my original query that she is constantly taking pain relief from chronic headache which I do not know if that has any relation to her problem.
Living in villages she sometimes needs to carry heavy pockets of water for home use and I wonder if carrying somewhat heavy loads have negative effects on her swollen node.
and last, is there any chance of the node rupturing as you can see from the photo it looks fairly large.
Thank you in advance
I am wondering if you had seen the photo I included with my original inquiry as I have not seen any mention of that in your response.
Actually I was hoping for a more specific answer as to how dangerous is her case and as to what type of treatment she can use.
Please note she is living in the village too far off from any hospital. I forgot to mention in my original query that she is constantly taking pain relief from chronic headache which I do not know if that has any relation to her problem.
Living in villages she sometimes needs to carry heavy pockets of water for home use and I wonder if carrying somewhat heavy loads have negative effects on her swollen node.
and last, is there any chance of the node rupturing as you can see from the photo it looks fairly large.
Thank you in advance
Brief Answer:
Detailed answer below.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
1. Yes I had seen the photograph & that's why included only inflammatory lesions In the answer. I am sorry for forgetting to mention it.
2.The look of the node is fulminating red.. due to strong inflammation with two possibilities if left untreated...(if the feel is hard),it may increase in dimensions & rupture to bother her for a longer period. In case it is soft& fluctuating. It would rupture soon. She should not try to rupture it herself (the procedure needs precautions) and she would need expert nursing care for proper dressing and antibiotic for early healing. It may turn risky if left untreated.
3. She can start over the counter tab Azitheomycin 400mg twice a day with food and Tab. Ibugesic 400mg twice a day. Ranitidine 150 mg and B complex preparation over the counter would help to be taken with advise of a doctor after he assesses need of incision and drainage.
*Doctor's advise is needful to judge basic cause & It's treatments.
4.Her chronic head ache can be due to chronic sinus infection with involvement of middle ear infection to cause the node enlargement.
5.Lifting heavy weight can cause stress to neck and increase pain in the node but inflammation mostly is a indicates infection.
*Finally I would stress consultation of a doctor to start with, for getting treatment of basic cause and to get instructions for proper nursing of the ruptured node OR medication to control the inflammation and reduce the damaged tissue (and reduce the suffering after the thing ruptures)
I hope that satisfies you. Anymore information you need please do not hesitate to ask.
Thanks.
Detailed answer below.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
1. Yes I had seen the photograph & that's why included only inflammatory lesions In the answer. I am sorry for forgetting to mention it.
2.The look of the node is fulminating red.. due to strong inflammation with two possibilities if left untreated...(if the feel is hard),it may increase in dimensions & rupture to bother her for a longer period. In case it is soft& fluctuating. It would rupture soon. She should not try to rupture it herself (the procedure needs precautions) and she would need expert nursing care for proper dressing and antibiotic for early healing. It may turn risky if left untreated.
3. She can start over the counter tab Azitheomycin 400mg twice a day with food and Tab. Ibugesic 400mg twice a day. Ranitidine 150 mg and B complex preparation over the counter would help to be taken with advise of a doctor after he assesses need of incision and drainage.
*Doctor's advise is needful to judge basic cause & It's treatments.
4.Her chronic head ache can be due to chronic sinus infection with involvement of middle ear infection to cause the node enlargement.
5.Lifting heavy weight can cause stress to neck and increase pain in the node but inflammation mostly is a indicates infection.
*Finally I would stress consultation of a doctor to start with, for getting treatment of basic cause and to get instructions for proper nursing of the ruptured node OR medication to control the inflammation and reduce the damaged tissue (and reduce the suffering after the thing ruptures)
I hope that satisfies you. Anymore information you need please do not hesitate to ask.
Thanks.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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