Are my lymph nodes clogged? What are lymph nodes?
The lymphatic system is a complex network of thin vessels, valves, ducts, nodes and organs. It helps to protect and maintain the fluid environment of the body by producing, filtering and conveying lymph and by producing various immune blood cells.
The lumps that you feel in your neck or under your jaw when you have a cold or a sore throat are called lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are part of the body's immune system. They help to destroy infectious germs, such as viruses (e.g. the common cold virus) and bacteria (e.g. strep). The lymph nodes make antibodies that will help keep you from being infected with a particular germ in the future.
The lymph system is present throughout the body. Common areas where enlarged lymph nodes can be felt (palpable nodes) include the groin area (inguinal region), armpit (axilla), the neck (there is a chain of lymph nodes on either side of the front of the neck, both sides of the neck, and down each side of the back of the neck), under the jaw and chin, behind the ears, and over the occiput (prominence on the back of the head). Their function is the same regardless of their location.
There are also lymph nodes that you can not feel, in your abdomen, pelvis and chest.
Lymph nodes play an important part in the body's defense against infection. Swelling might occur even if the infection is trivial or not apparent. This can feel like clogged lymph nodes.
Lymphadenitis is an infection and inflammation of one or more of the lymph nodes and usually results from an infection that begins near a lymph node. Often caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, this condition affects the nodes in the neck, groin and armpit. It sometimes strikes individuals who have had coronary artery bypasses using a saphenous vein from the leg: The removal of this vein is accompanied by removal of related structures of the lymphatic system, lowering immunity to infection.
Acute lymphangitis is a bacterial infection in the lymphatic vessels which is characterized by painful, red streaks below the skin surface. This is a potentially serious infection which can rapidly spread to the bloodstream and be fatal.
Lymph nodes are filters that can catch malignant tumor cells or infectious organisms. When they do, lymph nodes increase in size and are easily felt.
While lymph nodes are the most common cause of a lump or a bump in the neck, there are other, much less common causes, e.g., cysts from abnormalities of fetal development or thyroid gland enlargement. Usually, your doctor can tell the difference on a physical examination.
Causes & Development
When lymph nodes are active in fighting infection, they may become swollen and painful. Usually, the pain is mild, and the lymph node does not get much bigger than 2 centimeters (slightly under 1 inch) in size.
Swelling of lymph nodes generally results from localized or systemic infection, abscess formation, or malignancy; other causes of enlarged lymph nodes are extremely rare. By far the most common cause of lymph node enlargement is infection. As a rule, when swelling appears suddenly and is painful, it is usually caused by injury or an infection. Enlargement that comes on gradually and painlessly may result from malignancy or tumor.
Common causes of enlarged lymph nodes:
- Infectious mononucleosis (behind the ears or neck)
- Rubella, also known as German measles (behind the ears)
- Tuberculosis (above the collar bone)
- Mumps (salivary glands)
- Ear infections or sore throat (neck glands, sometimes)
- Infection in the scalp (behind the ears or in back of the head)
- Impacted tooth (swollen gums)
HIV disease or AIDS; cat-scratch fever; juvenile rheumatoid arthritis; serum sickness; leukemia; Hodgkin's disease; non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; canker sores; drugs (such as phenytoin); typhoid vaccination; salivary duct stones. Any persistently swollen lymph gland requires careful diagnostic study.
Lumps in the armpit (axilla) may arise from various causes, including:
- Bacterial
- localized infection, possibly somewhere in the arm or breast draining into the glands of the armpit, or infection within the armpit itself
- cat scratch disease
- ascending lymphangitis
- lymphadenitis, lymphangitis
- Viral
- infectious mononucleosis
- chickenpox
- herpes zoster (shingles)
- HIV disease (AIDS)
- Malignant
- Hodgkin's lymphoma
- non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
- leukemia
- Fungal
- Antigenic
- smallpox vaccination
- typhoid vaccine
- measles, mumps, rubella vaccine (rare)
- allergic reaction possibly caused by sulfa drugs, iodine, or penicillin
- Other
- lipomas (harmless fatty growths)
- benign cyst
- normal breast tissue (breast tissue extends into the armpit area)
Cysts and superficial infections in the skin of the armpit may follow shaving or use of antiperspirants (as compared to deodorants). This occurs most frequently in adolescents just beginning to shave. Subcutaneous abscesses may also produce large painful lumps in the axilla. Lumps may be produced by enlargement of the lymph nodes secondary to bacterial infections, viral infections, antigenic stimulation (as from vaccinations), and malignancy.
Treatment & Prevention
Generally, if you have symptoms of a cold or other minor infection, give the glands about 2 weeks to go back to normal. No specific treatment for them is needed. If the glands are small (less than 2cm or 3/4 inch across), are in your groin or under the chin, and you are a young adult, this is considered normal. Children tend to have a more active lymphatic system, so their glands may feel enlarged.
In general, always check with your health care provider to determine the nature of the lump. Do not try to diagnose lumps without professional help.
For a lump in the armpit caused by an infected, painful gland, follow the instructions about the proper treatment for the underlying infection.
