General
Swollen glands
Tender, enlarged lymph nodes, often in the neck, usually reacting to a nearby infection.
Education and reference only. This explains the common causes of swollen glands and the warning signs that need urgent help, in plain language — it is not a diagnosis or a substitute for advice from a clinician. If you feel very unwell or are worried, seek medical help.
Quick answer
What is swollen glands?
Swollen glands are enlarged lymph nodes, most often felt in the neck, under the jaw, in the armpits or in the groin. They are part of the immune system and commonly swell because they are fighting off a nearby infection such as a sore throat, cold or ear infection, settling once the infection clears.
- Get urgent help: A hard, fixed, painless lump that lasts more than a few weeks, especially with night sweats or weight loss – this needs assessment for lymphoma. Rapidly spreading red, hot skin over the gland with a fever.
- Self-care: Glands that swell because of a cold, sore throat or other minor infection usually go down on their own as you recover, which can take a couple of weeks.
About swollen glands
Swollen glands are enlarged lymph nodes, most often felt in the neck, under the jaw, in the armpits or in the groin. They are part of the immune system and commonly swell because they are fighting off a nearby infection such as a sore throat, cold or ear infection, settling once the infection clears. Glands that swell this way are usually tender and movable. Less often, a gland that is hard, fixed and painless, or that stays enlarged for weeks, can point to a more serious cause and should be checked. Noticing where the gland is, how long it has been there, and any other symptoms helps judge how concerning it is.
When to get help
Call 999 or go to A&E if swollen glands comes with any of these warning signs:
- A hard, fixed, painless lump that lasts more than a few weeks, especially with night sweats or weight loss – this needs assessment for lymphoma.
- Rapidly spreading red, hot skin over the gland with a fever.
- A lump together with difficulty breathing or swallowing.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if a swollen gland has not started to settle after about two weeks, keeps getting bigger, or is hard and fixed rather than tender and movable. It is also worth getting checked if you have swollen glands in several places at once without an obvious infection, or alongside unexplained weight loss, night sweats or feeling generally unwell. If you are unsure whether a lump is a gland or something else, a clinician can examine it.
Not sure how urgent it is? It is always OK to call NHS 111 for advice, day or night.
What can cause it
Common causes of swollen glands
Swollen glands has many possible causes. Each links to a full, plain-language guide to that condition — what it is, how it's treated and when to seek help.
What helps
Self-care and what you can do
Glands that swell because of a cold, sore throat or other minor infection usually go down on their own as you recover, which can take a couple of weeks. In the meantime, rest, drink plenty of fluids and treat the underlying infection as you normally would. A pharmacist can suggest something to ease discomfort and any fever. Try not to keep prodding the gland, as this can make it feel more tender, and keep an eye on whether it is slowly getting smaller over the following days and weeks.
Answers
Swollen glands: frequently asked questions
Why do my glands swell when I have a cold or sore throat?
Lymph nodes are part of the immune system, and they swell while they help fight an infection nearby, such as in the throat or ear. This kind of swelling is usually tender and movable and settles once the infection clears.
How long should swollen glands take to go down?
Glands that swell because of a minor infection usually start to shrink within a week or two of you recovering. If a gland stays enlarged beyond a couple of weeks, keeps growing, or feels hard and fixed, it is worth getting checked.
When should I worry about a swollen gland?
See a doctor about a hard, fixed, painless lump that lasts more than a few weeks, particularly with night sweats or unexplained weight loss. Also seek help for rapidly spreading red, hot skin over a gland with fever, or a lump making it hard to breathe or swallow.
Can stress cause swollen glands?
Stress itself does not directly enlarge lymph nodes, but it can lower your resistance to infections that do make glands swell. If glands stay swollen without an obvious infection, it is best to have them examined rather than assuming it is stress.
Sources
Where this is drawn from
- NICE CKS: Glandular fever.
- Lymphoma Action.
Related symptoms
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