Swollen Lymph Nodes in the Neck or Armpit: Common Causes, and When They Need a Look
Swollen glands are usually a sign your body is fighting an infection. Here's what usually causes them, how long they take to go down, and when to get one checked.
Lymph nodes are small glands that filter fluid and help fight infection, and they often swell when your body is fighting something nearby: a cold, strep throat, an ear or tooth infection, or a cut or skin infection. Swollen nodes from an infection are usually soft, movable and tender, and they go down within two to four weeks. Get a node checked if it's hard, fixed in place, growing, larger than about an inch, or still swollen after a few weeks, or if it comes with unexplained fever, night sweats or weight loss.
Where lymph nodes swell, and why
- Neck and under the jaw: colds, sore throats, strep, mono, ear infections, tooth infections, and skin problems on the scalp or face
- Behind the ears: scalp infections, lice, and ear infections
- Armpit: infections or cuts on the arm or hand, cat scratches, and sometimes after a vaccine in that arm
- Groin: infections on the legs or feet, and some sexually transmitted infections
Common causes
- Viral infections, such as colds, flu, COVID and mono
- Bacterial infections, such as strep throat or an infected cut
- Ear, sinus and dental infections
- Recent vaccines
- Skin conditions on the nearby area
- Less often: autoimmune conditions, certain medicines, and rarely cancers such as lymphoma
Signs it's probably from an infection
- Tender or sore to the touch
- Soft and movable under the skin
- Came on with a sore throat, cold, cut or other infection nearby
- Getting smaller over one to two weeks
Signs it needs a closer look
- Hard, rubbery or fixed in place
- Larger than about an inch (2.5 cm), or still growing
- Not going down after two to four weeks
- Swollen nodes in several areas at once
- Comes with fever without a clear cause, drenching night sweats or unexplained weight loss
- A swollen node above the collarbone
What helps
- Treating the cause: a sore throat, ear infection or skin infection
- Warm compresses on a tender node
- Acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain
- Rest and fluids
What urgent care can do
A clinician can examine the node and the area it drains, and test for common causes such as strep or mono. A red, hot, very painful node may be infected and need antibiotics, or drainage if it has formed an abscess. If a node has features that need more workup, you'll be referred to a primary care provider for follow-up or imaging.
At an AfterOurs clinic, a standard self-pay visit is $175, a visit with a rapid test is $250, and a self-pay in-clinic visit never costs more than $330. We contract with all major commercial and government plans, including Colorado Medicaid and Medicare. See the cost and insurance page.
Go to the ER or call 911 if a swollen node in the neck comes with trouble breathing or swallowing, drooling, or a stiff neck; or if a swollen area is rapidly spreading, red and hot with a high fever.
Where to find us
Four clinics across metro Denver, all ages welcome, se habla español:
- Hampden (Southeast Denver): 8 AM–11 PM daily
- Littleton: 8 AM–11 PM daily
- Thornton: 8 AM–11 PM daily
- Highlands: Mon–Fri 5–11 PM, Sat–Sun 8 AM–11 PM
Walk in, or book online.
Medically reviewed by Peter Martinuzzi, MD
This article is general health information, not medical advice for your situation. If you are worried, come in or book a telehealth visit — and if it is an emergency, call 911.