The lump in the neck is a small nodule that appears when there is an infection or inflammation close to the neck, such as tonsillitis, ear infection, wounds or flu, for example. As a rule, swelling is not considered a serious symptom, especially if it decreases in size and disappears within a few days.
However, swelling in the neck can also be a sign of more serious problems, such as cancer, HIV infection, tuberculosis or a tumor in the head region. In these cases, the nodule tends not to shrink or disappear over time, and other symptoms may appear such as excessive tiredness, difficulty swallowing, general malaise or weight loss without an apparent cause.
When there is swelling in the neck that does not improve after 3 or 4 days, or is accompanied by other symptoms, it is very important to consult a general practitioner to identify the cause and begin the most appropriate treatment.
What could be a sore throat?
The main causes of swelling in the neck are:
1. Colds and flu
This is one of the main causes of the appearance of sore throats and occurs due to infection of the body by common viruses such as the flu or cold. In this type of problem, the bumps can appear anywhere on the neck.
What to do: Flu or cold treatment should be carried out, as the rashes disappear when the virus is eliminated. Here are some tips to help treat the flu faster.
2. Sore throat
Although a sore throat can occur in cases of the flu, it can also occur due to bacterial infections, as occurs in tonsillitis, for example. In these cases, the lymph nodes become inflamed due to the immune system overworking to fight the infection.
In addition to the swelling, which normally appears on the side of the neck, it is also possible to have other symptoms such as cough, headache, pain in the throat, especially when swallowing, fever, pain in the ears and bad breath.
What to do: It is advisable to consult a general practitioner to assess the need to treat a sore throat with antibiotics.
3. Ear infection
Ear infections are similar to sore throats and, therefore, also activate the immune system, which can lead to the appearance of swelling, especially in the region behind the ears.
This type of infection also causes other symptoms such as ear pain, difficulty hearing, itching or the production of pus.
What to do: You should go to the doctor to evaluate the infection and start using antibiotics, if necessary. Generally, the bumps disappear when the infection is treated.
4. Wounds or bites on the skin
Wounds and bites are places where bacteria and viruses can easily enter the body and, when this happens, the immune system starts working to eliminate the problem. In the most serious cases, where there is a high number of microorganisms, the immune system works in excess and can lead to inflammation of the tongue.
What to do: the site of the wound or bite must be identified and assessed for signs of infection such as redness, swelling or severe pain. If this happens, you should go to a general practitioner to start appropriate treatment.
5. Autoimmune diseases
Autoimmune diseases, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, as well as HIV/AIDS, seriously affect the immune system and, therefore, damaged defense cells can accumulate in the lymph nodes, causing inflammation and the appearance of swelling.
In these cases, the bumps can appear in various places on the body, in addition to the neck, and it is also common for other symptoms to appear, such as muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and night sweats.
What to do: If you suspect that you have an autoimmune disease, it is advisable to go to your general practitioner for general examinations and start appropriate treatment, if necessary.
6. Cancer
The various types of cancer require a lot of work from the immune system and, therefore, it is common for patches to appear in various regions of the body. However, the most common types of cancer that cause swelling are lymphomas and leukemia.
What to do: When all other causes have been excluded, but the swelling is still present, blood tests should be performed to identify tumor markers or other tests that help with the diagnosis, such as computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging.
How the treatment is carried out
As swelling is the body’s response to the presence of invading microorganisms and/or inflammation, its treatment consists of eliminating them. Therefore, it may be necessary to take painkillers, anti-inflammatories or even antibiotics, depending on what is causing the swelling.
Although it is not very common, swelling in the neck can be one of the symptoms of lymphoma, a type of tumor that affects the immune system and, in this case, an oncologist should be consulted, with radiotherapy and chemotherapy being the treatment options.
But there are great home remedies for sore throat, such as clay poultices with onion, which help the body fight invading agents. Consuming foods rich in vitamin C and drinking plenty of water is also recommended to strengthen the individual’s defenses.
When to go to the doctor
Since swelling in the neck can be a sign of serious problems, it is recommended to consult a general practitioner when the swelling appears for no apparent reason, increases in size over time, is very hard, has an irregular shape or is accompanied by other symptoms such as persistent fever, night sweats, or causeless weight loss.
