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When lymphadenopathy is caused by an ear infection, tonsillitis or nasopharyngitis, it resolves naturally within a few days, which is the time needed for the immune system to eliminate the cause of the infection.
Certain infectious diseases can cause larger or more widespread lymph node enlargement. This may be the case with tuberculosis or mononucleosis. Other conditions that can cause lymph node inflammation include inflammation of the salivary glands, stones in the salivary gland ducts, goiter, or benign cysts. The appearance of symptoms such as swollen cervical lymph nodes is much less common due to the presence of an underlying cancer.
Malignant lymph node or tumor?
Malignant tumors in the neck are often seen in older adults. It can be a cancer that originates in a nearby structure (mouth or throat) and then spreads to the neck, notes the MSD website. It can also be a cancerous lymph node, which can form when the cancer spreads (metastasizes) from nearby structures or distant parts of the body. Or it can be lymphoma, a cancer that begins in the lymphatic system.
These malignant tumors usually do not present pain or tenderness and tend to feel hard, like stone.
How long does it take for a painful lymph node in the neck to disappear? And when should you seek medical help?
However, there’s no need to be alarmed by the slightest presence of swollen lymph nodes. In fact, the vast majority of lymph nodes reveal a benign viral illness that will heal naturally in just a few days. However, lymph node inflammation can sometimes be quite large, or even painful. In this case, it’s advisable to consult your doctor so that he or she can detect the underlying pathology and implement appropriate treatment.
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