Bump behind the ear – What to do?

Introduction

A bump behind the ear refers to any kind of palpable or visible swelling behind the ear, which can have various causes. In many cases it is an enlargement of a lymph node, which in turn can be caused by various circumstances. In most cases, a bump behind the ear is harmless and goes away by itself. A medical examination should be carried out if the lump has been there for more than two weeks, continues to grow or causes additional complaints such as pain. Only in very rare cases does the bump behind the ear indicate a serious illness that requires treatment.

What causes can a bump behind the ear have?

A bump behind the ear can have various causes, most of which are harmless. In many cases, it is caused by swelling of a lymph node due to a virus or bacterial infection in the ear, respiratory tract or teeth. In addition, sebaceous glands behind the ear can become inflamed and also cause a bump.

An insect bite can also cause the skin to bulge significantly. In addition, as everywhere on the body, tissue growths can also form behind the ear, which are benign in most cases. A common example is the so-called lipomas (fatty tissue tumours).

Only in very rare cases is a lump behind the ear the cause of a dangerous or even malignant disease. In particular, bumps that develop without a recognisable cause, grow larger and larger and cause no pain should be examined. In rare cases, it may be a form of cancer, which should be treated as early as possible.

A swelling of the lymph nodes is in many cases responsible for a bump behind the ear. The lymph nodes are control points of the body’s own defence system and are distributed in regions all over the body. Many different causes lead to a reactive enlargement of the lymph nodes.

In most cases a harmless virus infection is present, such as a cold. Rubella is another virus-induced disease that typically causes swelling of the lymph nodes behind the ear. This disease should therefore be considered in unvaccinated children or adults.

Bacterial inflammation of the middle ear or teeth, for example, can also cause swelling of the lymph nodes behind the ear. In extremely rare cases, however, it is not an infection that is responsible for the bulge, but a form of cancer originating in the lymphatic system (“lymph gland cancer“). If the bump is hard and difficult to move, and if there are accompanying symptoms such as unintentional weight loss and heavy sweating at night, a medical examination should therefore be carried out as soon as possible. The same applies if bumps also occur in other parts of the body due to swelling of the lymph glands, such as in the groin or under the arms.