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I Have Swollen Lymph Nodes In The Neck, Under The

Posted on Fri, 1 Nov 2019

Question: I have swollen lymph nodes in the neck, under the jaw, and burning pain in the neck and jaw and ears for 5 weeks, as well as a feeling of a lump in the throat. I have no difficulty breathing or swallowing, but I lose my voice sometimes and throat is dry. I do have some GERD symptoms and I am being treated for that as well as some sinus problems. My primary care Dr. doesn't believe the lymph nodes are swollen enough to consider cancer. I'm 44 years old, male, non-smoker, no fever. I have just recovered from 8 weeks of vertigo which was from inner-ear infection. Are painful swollen lymph nodes a warning sign for cancer? Or could these just be from GERD or post-nasal drip from sinus?

Answered by Dr. Ramesh Kumar (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Very unlikely to be cancerous.

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for choosing " Ask a Doctor" service for your query sir,
Have seen your details and I appreciate your concern.
Moving to you query-

Pain is an indicator of inflammation and inflammation is caused by viral/Bacterial infection or Secondary to any irritation caused to nodes or adjoining area.
Usually lymph nodes are check point if infection and traps bacteria present in body and therefore swells up.

In most of the cancers lymph nodes are not painful and fever is not there.
Fever means that body has bacteria or some sort of constant irritation with inflammation inside it.

Very likely it's related to acid reflux or infection in your throat. Would suggest you to get your throat checked up properly by otorhinolaryngolist.

So yes in short for me it's either due to post nasal drip from sinus or GERD.
But golden rule of medical science is that no diagnosis should be given without examining the patient so visit a otolaryngologist and get yourself evaluated along with it a blood test called Complete blood count should be done.Fighter cells in body like neutrophils or lymphocytes are elevated in case of infection.

Follow up with that.
Hope I was to the point and clear sir.
Follow ups are welcome.
Thank you.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Ramesh Kumar (2 hours later)

I will do that. Are antibiotics usually indicated when lymph nodes are swollen and irritated? I also have many years of occupational exposure to irritants such as crystalline silica dust, solvents, and isocyanate fumes. I take precautions such as wearing a respirator but I sometimes wonder if the cumulative exposure is slowly causing any damage, although in blood tests my liver is ok. Would this exposure cause any irritation in lymph nodes or would that all be in the lungs?

Answered by Dr. Ramesh Kumar (16 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
Yes initially a sensitivity test of bacteria is done after which antibiotic course is administered for a minimum of 7 days along with it an anti inflammatory is given to help settle down inflammation like Ibuprofen( over the counter).

If it was due to occupational hazard then fever is a unusual symptom.

Very likely it's bacterial. Visit your primary and take antibiotic anti-inflammatory therapy for a week.
If things don't settle then we would think about other causes.
Common thing first- Golden rule of medicine.
Azithromycin or Augmentin should be preferred antibiotic.
Hope I was clear and helpful.
Thank you.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Ramesh Kumar (10 hours later)

I don't have a fever. I will visit the doc. thank you

Answered by Dr. Ramesh Kumar (12 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
Definitely you should follow up with him and very likely he would give you a course of antibiotics.
Keep me informed.
Regards.

Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T