Swollen Lymph Nodes Causes

Several mechanisms can cause the lymph nodes to enlarge.

• Infection: This can increase the number of white blood cells, which multiply in response to stimulation with a foreign substance (antigen)

• Virus: Immune reaction to a generalized infection in the body such as viral infections that can occur with the common cold as well as more serious infections such as HIV

• Inflammation: Infiltration with inflammatory cells during infection or inflammation in a region of a given lymph node

• Cancer: Infiltration with malignant cells (metastases) brought to the node with the lymph flowing from an area of a certain type of cancer

• Cancer of the Blood: Uncontrolled, malignant multiplication of lymphocytes as in lymphoma or leukemia