Various LOCALISATIONS

The acute and usually painful swelling of the cervical lymph nodes occurs in infections of the respiratory tract (nose and throat). Besides bacteria, viruses also play a role in this disease pattern. Due to the decreasing willingness to vaccinate and many vaccination opponents, whooping cough can also be a possible triggering basic disease.

In rare cases, the lymph node infestation in the so-called toxoplasmosis is also limited to the neck region. It is important to consider lymph node tuberculosis in cases of unilateral swelling of the lymph nodes. This disease is chronic and the lymph nodes are not painfully altered.

Other mycobacteria can also cause lymph node swelling or inflammation. One-sided swollen lymph nodes in the neck can occur in localized processes. These include inflammation of the skin, oral mucosa, certain teeth or ears.

To illustrate this two examples: A right-sided tooth inflammation is most likely to cause right-sided lymph node swelling. If you have an ear infection on the left side, a lymph node swelling will occur on the left side of the neck. However, if the swelling is unilaterally limited and persists for more than 2-3 weeks, a blood test should be performed or the lymph nodes should be examined by biopsy to rule out malignant causes.

In addition to malignant processes, lymph node tuberculosis is also a possible cause. These processes must be clarified. In respiratory tract infections, the most common trigger of lymph node swelling in the neck, it occurs on both sides in most cases.

Swollen lymph nodes on both sides are also more common in other infections such as tonsillitis. A malignant disease is very unlikely in bilateral swollen lymph nodes in the neck, especially if the swelling is symmetrically distributed. There are many lymph nodes in the groin region, a natural part of the body’s defense system.

In some cases they can even be palpated if they are not enlarged. If lymph nodes in the neck and groin are enlarged at the same time, this can have various causes. The most common is again an infectious disease.

Autoimmune diseases can also lead to lymph node enlargement all over the body. In some cases, a malignant disease may also be the cause. Even if this explains lymph node enlargement in rare cases, a medical examination should be performed.

A doctor should also be consulted if there has been recent unprotected sexual contact outside of a partnership. Some sexually transmitted diseases such as fungal infections can manifest themselves as swollen inguinal lymph nodes. In such a situation, a possible infection with the HI virus (trigger of AIDS) should also be ruled out, as lymph node swelling can also occur a few weeks after infection.

Lymph node enlargement can occur all over the body. In the case of respiratory tract infections, in addition to swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, it is also possible for them to occur in the neck. As with all lymph node enlargements, they are a normal reaction of the immune system to infections and normally disappear on their own after healing.

If this does not happen, or if lymph node enlargements of the neck and neck occur without an infection, a doctor should be consulted. This is especially true if the lymph nodes feel hard and do not cause pain when pressed. Swollen lymph nodes on or around the ear can occur if there is inflammation around the ear.

These include inflammation of the externally visible ear, but also inflammation of the middle ear and inner ear, which are not visible but can cause severe pain and dizziness. Simultaneous or slightly delayed lymph node swelling of the neck is also possible. Likewise, swollen lymph nodes in the neck and ear can also occur with all sorts of other infections in the head and neck area, such as sinusitis in a cold. One-sided swollen lymph nodes, which cannot be moved and do not cause pain when touched, should be examined by a physician.