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What Is The Significance Of A Swollen Lymph Node?
What is the signifigance of a swollen lymph node - about the size of a plum- painful with no other significant symptoms. The remaining lymph nodes are unremarkable - just this one. It had been swillen, then went down to a smaller, hard pea siz node. Just last week, it started swelling to it's current painful size but no fever, chills fatgue, etc
Wed, 10 Jul 2013
Hi,
Thanks for using Healthcaremagic,
"Swollen glands" refers to enlargement of one or more lymph nodes. Importance depends on location and cause of enlargement.
Common causes are Ear infection, Flu, Mononucleosis, Tuberculosis, Infection in teeth, Skin infection, Sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, Cancers, and Hodgkin and Lymphomas, some drugs can also cause it.
Its significance depends on cause and it must be examined clinically and if required by proper blood investigations and biopsy of lymph node to know exact cause for it.
Treatment would depend on cause.
Please visit your Physician and appropriate examination and then it can be treated accordingly. In most cases infection local disease can be treated.
Hope this information helps you.
Take care.
Good Luck.
Dr.Akhilesh Dubey M.D.
Thanks for using Healthcaremagic,
"Swollen glands" refers to enlargement of one or more lymph nodes. Importance depends on location and cause of enlargement.
Common causes are Ear infection, Flu, Mononucleosis, Tuberculosis, Infection in teeth, Skin infection, Sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, Cancers, and Hodgkin and Lymphomas, some drugs can also cause it.
Its significance depends on cause and it must be examined clinically and if required by proper blood investigations and biopsy of lymph node to know exact cause for it.
Treatment would depend on cause.
Please visit your Physician and appropriate examination and then it can be treated accordingly. In most cases infection local disease can be treated.
Hope this information helps you.
Take care.
Good Luck.
Dr.Akhilesh Dubey M.D.
I find this answer helpful
User's Response
Hi, many thanks for the query!
Usually lymph node is swollen in case of some kind of infection, but as you have mentioned that you don't have fever, it is unlikely.
You haven't mentioned which lymph node is swollen (neck/inguinal...)
If its a supraclavicular lymph node, it can be due to lymphatic spread of some abdominal malignancy, but needs confirmation, so don't worry.
As it is painful, inflammation is there.
So, moral of the story, get FNAC of the swelling (lymph node) done.
See your doctor for local examination & take antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs with his opinion.
Wish you a good health.
Take care.
Regards.
Usually lymph node is swollen in case of some kind of infection, but as you have mentioned that you don't have fever, it is unlikely.
You haven't mentioned which lymph node is swollen (neck/inguinal...)
If its a supraclavicular lymph node, it can be due to lymphatic spread of some abdominal malignancy, but needs confirmation, so don't worry.
As it is painful, inflammation is there.
So, moral of the story, get FNAC of the swelling (lymph node) done.
See your doctor for local examination & take antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs with his opinion.
Wish you a good health.
Take care.
Regards.
I find this answer helpful
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