When to Seek Medical Care

Inflamed nodes themselves are generally not a major concern, but if you have symptoms of another condition along with enlarged lymph nodes, consult your doctor.

Call your doctor:

• If the swelling of the nodes lasts for more than two weeks or you have symptoms such as weight loss, night sweats, fatigue, or prolonged fever

• If the nodes are hard, fixed to the skin, or are growing rapidly

• If you can feel swelling close to your collarbone or in the lower part of the neck

• If the overlying skin is red and inflamed and you suspect an infection

The diagnosis of swollen lymph nodes rarely requires emergency hospital treatment. The exceptions to this include a growing infection of the skin that requires treatment, a severely infected lymph node that needs to be drained, or severe pain.

Viewer Comments & Reviews

Swollen Lymph Nodes - Describe Your Diagnosis

The eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:

Please describe your diagnosis of swollen lymph nodes.

Comment submissions for this question have ended.
See 23 Viewer Comments & Reviews

Submit Your Review