Quick answer
What could swollen glands mean?
Swollen glands are enlarged lymph nodes that usually mean your immune system is fighting an infection, such as a throat, ear, or skin infection. They typically feel tender and settle within 2 to 4 weeks. See a GP if lumps persist over 2 weeks, are painless and hard, keep growing, or come with night sweats or weight loss.
Swollen glands explained
Lymph nodes, often called glands, are small bean-shaped filters found throughout the body, with clusters in the neck, armpits, groin, and deeper internal sites. When your immune system fights an infection, nearby lymph nodes swell as white blood cells multiply inside them to help clear it.
Swollen glands are usually a normal and temporary response to infection, but persistent or unusual lumps need medical assessment to exclude serious conditions, including lymphoma.
Normal swollen glands versus concerning lumps
Swollen glands are usually benign when they follow a cold, sore throat, ear infection, tooth abscess, or skin wound, feel tender to touch, feel soft and mobile under the skin, and settle within 2 to 4 weeks. A swollen gland needs GP assessment when there is no obvious infection to explain it, when the lump feels painless, hard, or fixed in place, when it keeps growing over several weeks, when it has been present for more than 2 weeks, when swelling appears at multiple sites without an obvious infection, or when it occurs alongside night sweats, weight loss, itching, or a persistent fever.
Common causes of swollen glands
Viral infections are a frequent cause and include the common cold and flu, glandular fever caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, which produces prominent neck nodes and severe fatigue, and CMV or HIV infection, with HIV testing recommended if there is a relevant risk. Bacterial infections such as tonsillitis, strep throat, dental abscess, and cellulitis of nearby skin can also cause swollen glands, as can cat scratch disease, an infection caused by Bartonella bacteria that produces regional node swelling after a scratch from a cat. Other causes include certain medicines such as phenytoin or allopurinol, which rarely cause a drug reaction, autoimmune conditions such as sarcoidosis and lupus, thyroid disease, which can cause a neck lump that is sometimes mistaken for a swollen lymph node, and cancers such as lymphoma, leukaemia, or cancer that has spread from another part of the body.
Where swollen glands appear and what it suggests
| Location | Common associations |
|---|---|
| Neck | Throat, ear, scalp, or dental infection |
| Under the jaw | Mouth, teeth, or glandular fever |
| Armpit | Arm, breast, or chest wall infection |
| Groin | Leg, foot, or genital infection |
Swelling at many sites at once, known as generalised lymphadenopathy, can be caused by viral illness, glandular fever, HIV, lymphoma, or leukaemia, and needs GP assessment.
Glandular fever and swollen glands
Glandular fever, also known as infectious mononucleosis, mainly affects teenagers and young adults and typically causes a severe sore throat, marked neck gland swelling, and profound fatigue that can last from weeks to months. It can also cause splenomegaly, an enlarged spleen, so contact sports such as rugby should be avoided while this settles. A blood test confirms the diagnosis, and antibiotics such as amoxicillin should not be used until glandular fever has been excluded, since they can cause a rash in people who have the infection.
What a GP does for swollen glands
A GP will take a history covering infection symptoms, recent travel, animal exposure, weight change, and night sweats, and will examine all the node areas along with your throat, ears, and skin. Blood tests such as a full blood count, CRP, EBV serology where relevant, and an HIV test with your consent if there is a risk factor, may also be arranged. An ultrasound scan of a neck lump is often the first investigation, as it helps distinguish a solid lymph node from a fluid-filled cyst, and if lymphoma is suspected, a GP will make an urgent two-week-wait referral rather than waiting to see how the lump develops over time.
How swollen glands are treated
Treatment for swollen glands focuses on the underlying cause: viral infections are managed with rest, fluids, and pain relief, bacterial tonsillitis may need antibiotics if indicated, and a dental cause needs treatment from a dentist. No treatment is needed for the swollen node itself once the underlying infection is resolving and the node is shrinking.
Early signs of lymphoma
Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma often present with painless, rubbery lumps in the neck or chest, so-called B symptoms such as drenching night sweats, significant weight loss, and a fever above 38 degrees Celsius, itching without a visible rash, and breathlessness caused by a mass in the chest. The outlook for lymphoma has improved considerably over recent years, which is why early diagnosis matters so much.
Most swollen glands are simply a sign that your immune system is doing its job. Give them up to 2 weeks to settle after a clear infection, and book a GP appointment if they are still there after that, or if any of the red flag symptoms appear.
Common questions about swollen glands
- Why do glands swell when you are ill?
- Glands swell when you are ill because lymph nodes contain immune cells that multiply rapidly while fighting infection, causing the node to enlarge as it works. Common triggers include viral upper respiratory infections, tonsillitis, dental abscess, skin infections, and glandular fever, and the swelling is usually tender and soft to touch.
- How long do swollen glands take to go down?
- Swollen glands typically go down within 2 to 4 weeks once the underlying infection clears, though they can take longer, sometimes weeks to months, after glandular fever. If a gland is still enlarged after 2 weeks without a clear cause, you should see a GP.
- Can swollen glands be cancer?
- Swollen glands can occasionally be a sign of cancer, although most swollen glands in young people are caused by infection. Lymphoma and leukaemia can present as painless, persistent lymph node swelling, often alongside night sweats, weight loss, or itching, and metastatic cancer from other sites can also spread to nearby nodes. A GP examination and blood tests help decide whether urgent referral is needed.
- What is glandular fever?
- Glandular fever, also called infectious mononucleosis, is an Epstein-Barr virus infection that is common in teenagers and young adults. It causes a severe sore throat, fatigue, fever, and marked swelling of the neck glands, and is diagnosed with a blood test called a Monospot test. There is no specific treatment beyond rest and fluids, and contact sports should be avoided for several weeks because of the risk of spleen enlargement.
- Should I massage swollen lymph nodes?
- You should not massage or repeatedly press swollen lymph nodes, as this does not help and can cause unnecessary discomfort. It is better to focus on treating the underlying infection, and paracetamol or ibuprofen can help with any pain if appropriate.