Swollen lymph nodes
Swollen lymph nodes also known as lymphadenitis is the most likely reason for a lump on the neck. Healthy lymph nodes are small and firm. Lymph is considered swollen if it’s half an inch bigger. And this implies that your body is fighting something.
Signs that indicate that a lump may be a swollen lymph node include:
- Redness of the skin
- Soft and movable
- Painful
- Fever [3]
That you have swollen lymph nodes in your neck does not necessarily mean the problem is your neck. It can also be a result of some type of infection in your throat, teeth, ears, and sinuses. Swollen lymph nodes in the neck can also be a result of viral, bacterial, or fungal infections that affects the whole body. Some of these infections include:
- HIV [4]
- Cold or flu
- Measles
- Mumps
- Mononucleosis [5]
These illnesses also produce other symptoms that can offer clues as to what the issue is. Sometimes swollen lymph nodes can be as a result of cancers, such as:
- Oral cancer
- Head and neck cancer
- Salivary gland cancer
- Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Metastatic cancer