How dangerous is a swelling of lymph nodes behind the ear?
A swelling of the lymph nodes behind the ear is often not very dangerous. Since the more common causes include infectious diseases that are easily treatable, rapid therapy can be provided if the swelling is detected early.However, it should also be remembered that lymph node swelling can occur in the context of a tumor disease, which can result in a more dangerous course. Typical signs of a possible tumor disease are a painless swelling that lasts for several weeks and does not go down. The lymph nodes are then often not very mobile and hardened. In such cases a doctor should be consulted urgently for further clarification.
Associated symptoms
If there is a swelling of the lymph nodes behind or in front of the ear, pain often occurs due to the increase in size of the lymph nodes. However, swelling of lymph nodes can also be completely painless. Depending on the cause of the disease and its possible course, the lymph node region may also become red and overheated.
Non-specific disease symptoms can also occur and manifest themselves as fever, tiredness or even fatigue. Otherwise, the symptoms depend primarily on the underlying disease. A rubella infection manifests itself naturally through completely different symptoms than an infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).
The symptoms of lymph node cancer are usually a painless swelling of the lymph nodes together with general symptoms (so-called B-symptoms) such as a performance kink, night sweats and unwanted weight loss. If a painful lymph node swelling occurs suddenly and can be associated with an inflammation or injury, it is most likely an inflammatory and benign process. Particularly if the pressure-painful lymph node swelling behind the ear is soft and easily displaced, this is more likely to indicate benign lymph node swelling.
If a painful lymph node swelling without signs of inflammation or injury occurs, it should be observed for a few weeks. If the pain and swelling subsides or the lymph node does not grow in size during the observation period, no further action is generally necessary. However, if there is any uncertainty, a doctor should always be consulted, who can find a possible explanation for the lymph node swelling behind the ear.
The swelling of the lymph nodes behind the ear is known as a swelling of the so-called retroauricular lymph nodes. In principle, painless lymph node swelling is more likely to be suspected of being a tumor than painful swelling of the lymph nodes. Painless lymph node swelling behind the ears is often more likely to be one-sided.
In addition, the swollen lymph nodes are often not movable. In principle, lymph node swelling can indicate inflammation and infection, but especially behind the ear it can provide an indication of inflammation of the middle ear or other infections of the nasopharynx. However, since lymph node swelling can also be caused by tumorous changes, lymph node swelling behind the ear should be clarified by a doctor without pain.
Painful lymph node swelling behind the ear and sore throat can be caused by so-called Pfeiffer’s glandular fever (infectious mononucleosis). This disease mainly affects adolescents, but is harmless as far as it is concerned. Triggered by the Epstein-Barr virus, it leads to a severe inflammation in the throat and pharynx, which causes severe sore throat.
In addition to the lymph nodes behind the ear, the neck lymph nodes in particular are swollen and painful. Other viral or bacterial inflammations can also cause sore throat and swelling of the lymph nodes behind the ears. Ear pain associated with swelling of the lymph nodes behind the ear can be an indication of an inflammation in or around the ear.
The inflammation stimulates the immune system to react, and the cells in the lymph nodes become active. For example, inflammation of the middle ear and eardrum, inflammation of the external auditory canal or diseases of the pinna can cause swelling of the lymph nodes behind the ear. On the other hand, swelling of lymph nodes behind the ear can also cause ear pain. Especially if the lymph node is very swollen, it can press on surrounding structures and thus cause pain, especially on the outside of the ear.
