How do I Treat a Swollen Neck Gland?

A swollen neck gland could indicate the body is fighting off a virus, or possibly something more serious which will need to be checked out by a medical professional.
Excessive touching or massaging of the throat may irritate the condition and increase swelling.
Swollen lymph nodes are one of the first signs of illness.
Lymph nodes in the head and neck.
A mild pain reliever like ibuprofen might be recommended for a swollen neck gland.
Bacterial infections like strep throat can cause swollen neck glands, so proper diagnosis and corresponding antibiotic therapy is important.
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  • Written By: Tricia Ellis-Christensen
  • Edited By: O. Wallace
  • Last Modified Date: 20 September 2015
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The best way to treat a swollen neck gland depends on the cause. If it's the result of the body fighting off a virus or other infection, it may go away once the illness has passed. If it's caused by something more serious, a medical professional may need to run tests to find the underlying cause, then treat it. You may also be able to use warm compresses and pain relievers to treat some of the discomfort associated with swollen glands.

A swollen neck gland can be caused by many different things, and it may be the body’s natural response to viruses, a symptom of a bacterial infection or, in rarer circumstances, it may indicate some forms of lymphatic cancer. It’s therefore important that people involve medical professionals if the swelling in the lymph gland doesn’t disappear quickly. Especially if a gland is swollen for several months, or if you also have a fever and/or an extreme sore throat, get medical attention right away.


When a healthcare provider treats a patient with swollen neck glands, he or she usually first looks for signs of viral infection. Even a common cold may cause one or more glands in the neck to swell, and if cold symptoms are present, there may be no specific treatment required. Other viruses need to at least be identified, even if there is no treatment. If a gland is swollen and you have a sore throat, the healthcare professional might want to rule out mononucleosis.

When the swelling isn't caused by a virus, it could indicate a bacterial infection. Ruling out conditions like strep throat is important, and swelling of the lymph nodes is quite common when people have cat scratch fever. Many of the cases of long term lymph node swelling in children are due to this infection.

Once viruses and bacteria are eliminated as potential causes, some medical professionals may want to X-ray the neck or aspirate fluid from the swollen node to determine if cancer might be the cause. This usually isn’t done right away, and healthcare providers typically need fairly convincing evidence that it’s necessary. A neck gland can stay swollen for several months after a viral or bacterial infection.

If the problem is caused by a bacterial infection, antibiotics will likely be prescribed. They will typically help reduce the swelling as they kill the bacteria. A medical professional might also suggest use of a mild pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

From a home care perspective, there may be a few ways to alleviate some pain associated with the swollen neck gland. Warm compresses on the gland may relieve feelings of tightness and could help it to shrink. It's best to not spend a lot of time touching or massaging the swollen gland, however, as this may create additional irritation and more swelling.


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Discuss this Article

Post 4

@StarJo – The ones along my jaw bone a few inches in front of my ear always swell when I have a virus or cold. They also swelled up when I had strep throat.

I felt like everything in the whole area was swollen then. My throat was the most completely swollen part, and I could hardly swallow.

I definitely felt soreness and swelling at the top of my neck where it meets my jaw, though. I had a fever, and I was severely ill.

I had to get antibiotics to treat this infection. If I hadn't, then it might have turned into a life-threatening illness.

Post 3

What is the most common spot on the neck that swells when you have an infection? I know that there are several lymph nodes located in different spots on the head, but which ones usually swell when you're sick?

Post 2

I think that when the glands in your neck are swollen from a cold or virus, it's best to just leave them alone. They are swollen because they are working hard to fight the virus, and if you do something to reduce the swelling, you might actually be prolonging your recovery.

Post 1

I had swollen lymph glands in my neck once from a mysterious infection. My symptoms were malaise and a sore throat on only one side.

I had no fever and no cough or excess mucus. I wasn't nauseated or anything. I just felt ill in general.

The swelling went away after about two weeks, and the symptoms went with it. I still have no idea what was going on in my body.

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