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10/22/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/22/2024 15:46

Does COVID Cause Swollen Lymph Nodes in Your Neck

If you've recently come down withCOVID-19, you may notice that your neck glands feel swollen or tender. It's normal to wonder what's going on and what to do. Here's what to know about how COVID infection can lead to swollen lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy).

What causes swollen glands (lymph nodes)? There are hundreds of lymph nodes throughout your body. You can feel lymph nodes that are closer to the skin, like those in your armpit, groin, and neck.

Usually, lymph nodes are small - about 1 cm, or the size of a pea. They swell when your body experiences an infection, which is when they're more likely to catch your attention.

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Lymph nodes are checkpoints for infection. When lymph nodes detect a virus or bacteria, they start pumping out white blood cells to fight off infection. This makes lymph nodesswell and feel tender.

There are lots of possiblecauses of swollen lymph nodes, including:

Can COVID cause swollen lymph nodes? Yes, COVID illness can lead to swollen lymph nodes, especiallyswollen neck lymph nodes. This isn't one of the most commonsymptoms of COVID. But you may have swollen lymph nodes even with a mild COVID infection. Swollen lymph nodes can cause pain in your neck, ear, or throat. You might notice symptoms on one or both sides of your body.

Since many people experienceCOVID sore throatandupper respiratory tract infections, the lymph nodes in your neck and in front of your ear are often the first to respond to the virus. Swollen lymph nodes can also happen in other parts of your body. But you may not be able to feel them as easily because they aren't as close to your skin.

Lymph node swelling starts within a few days of coming down with COVID infection. This swelling can take several weeks to go away.

Can the COVID vaccine cause swollen lymph nodes? Yes, theCOVID vaccinecan causeswollen neck lymph nodesand otherside effects. Other vaccines - like theHPVandflu vaccines- can also causelymph node swelling. Side effects aside, theCDCstill recommends that everyone 6 months and older get the updated COVID vaccine.

ThemRNA vaccines(Pfizer and Moderna) aremore likelyto cause swollen lymph nodes, especially in your neck and armpit.

Lymph-node swelling after COVID vaccination isn't uncommon. Onestudyfound that people were more likely to develop swelling after their second dose or booster shot. Swelling can start2 to 4 daysafter vaccination and may last for several weeks.

How do you treat swollen lymph nodes from COVID or the COVID vaccine? Swollen lymph nodes from COVID illness or vaccination don't need specific treatment. The swelling will go away on its own and rarely lead to any complications like infection. In the meantime, over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers likeacetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin), can help relieve discomfort and may temporarily bring down swelling.

But it's important to be sure that COVID illness or vaccination is the cause of your swollen lymph nodes. As noted above, there are many other causes of swollen lymph nodes, ranging from minor infections to serious illnesses like autoimmune diseases and cancer. So, it's important to figure out the cause. Taking aCOVID testis a good place to start if you're feeling unwell and haven't had a recent COVID vaccine.

When to contact a healthcare professional Early in the COVID pandemic, there was a lot of uncertainty about how to keep people safe. Many hospitals and healthcare systems were overwhelmed, making it hard for people to get the care they needed - including routine checkups and exams.

Some people waited to have swollen lymph nodes checked. They blamed the problem on COVID or the vaccine - only to discover that they actually had cancer.

Others faced the opposite problem. They went in for evaluation, had scans and biopsies, and were relieved to find out that they were OK. But they faced large medical bills and dealt with emotional stress and anxiety.

In response, experts maderecommendationsto address these issues. Now, people can know when to get help, and healthcare professionals can determine when it's safe to take a "wait-and-see" approach.

Here are some tips from the guidelines:

  • If you need a mammogram or any other imaging studies of your head and neck, get it done before yourCOVID vaccine. The vaccine can affect your results. If that's not possible, wait 6 weeks after your vaccine to get your imaging study. That way, the imaging study won't pick up enlarged lymph nodes from your COVID vaccine.
  • If you still have swollen lymph nodes 3 to 4 weeks after COVID illness or vaccination, see a healthcare professional. They can measure the lymph nodes to make sure they are getting smaller over time. They may also run blood tests to check for signs of cancer or infection.
  • If you have a history of cancer on one side of your body, be sure to get your COVID vaccine on the opposite side.
  • See a healthcare professional right away if you have large lymph nodes in multiple areas of your body.
  • See a healthcare professional right away if you have swollen lymph nodes in your neck or armpit along with other symptoms like fever, night sweats, and weight loss.

Remember, if you're worried about swollen lymph nodes or think they're getting bigger, it's always best to see a healthcare professional. Sometimes a quick exam is enough to rule out more serious conditions.

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" data-qa="ContentCalloutH2Title" The bottom line Both COVID illness and the COVID vaccine can lead to lymph node swelling, especially in your neck. This swelling isn't dangerous, but it can last a few weeks.

Swollen lymph nodes can be a sign of more serious medical conditions, like autoimmune conditions or cancer. If your swelling hasn't gotten better after 3 weeks, see a healthcare professional. And if you have lymph node swelling throughout your body or other unusual symptoms, get medical attention right away.