What makes swollen lymph nodes go down

See your GP if your glands have been swollen for more than a couple of weeks. The swelling is probably the result of a non-cancerous condition, but it's best to be sure by getting a proper diagnosis. Home Illnesses and conditions Glands Swollen glands.

Swollen glands. About swollen glands Swollen lymph glands are usually a sign of infection and tend to go down when you recover. Urgent advice: See your GP if you have swollen glands and:. If necessary, your GP may request some tests to help identify the cause. These can include: blood tests an ultrasound scan a computerised tomography CT scan a biopsy where a small sample of fluid is taken from the swelling and tested Common causes of swollen glands Swollen glands are usually caused by a relatively minor viral or bacterial infection, including: a cold tonsillitis glandular fever a throat infection an ear infection a dental abscess cellulitis a skin infection The glands in the affected area will often become suddenly tender or painful.

These infections usually clear up on their own, and the swollen glands will soon go down. Swollen glands are more likely to be caused by cancer if they: don't go away within a few weeks and slowly get bigger are painless and firm or hard when you touch them occur with other symptoms, such as night sweats and weight loss See your GP if your glands have been swollen for more than a couple of weeks.

This may be caused by:. Treatment for swollen glands focuses on treating the cause. For example, a bacterial infection may be treated with antibiotics, while a viral infection often goes away on its own. If cancer is suspected, a biopsy may be done to confirm the diagnosis. Any swollen lymph nodes that don't go away or return to normal size within about a month should be checked by your doctor.

Lymph nodes may remain swollen or firm long after an initial infection is gone. This is especially true in children, whose glands may decrease in size while remaining firm and visible for many weeks.

Author: Healthwise Staff. Russo MD - Internal Medicine. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.

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This website is not intended for residents of New Mexico. Selecting these links will take you away from Cigna. Cigna may not control the content or links of non-Cigna websites. Overview Medicare Coverage Options. Check if your glands are swollen Swollen glands feel like tender, painful lumps: on each side of the neck under the chin in the armpits around the groin Glands known as lymph glands or lymph nodes swell near an infection to help your body fight it.

Sometimes a gland on just one side of the body swells. You might also have other symptoms, such as a sore throat, cough or high temperature. Things you can do yourself Swollen glands should go down within 2 weeks. You can help to ease the symptoms by: resting drinking plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration taking painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen do not give aspirin to children under 16 Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:.