A Lump in the Neck

About the Symptom

An infection, an injury, tumors, or a recent medical procedure could all cause neck swelling.

When to See a Doctor

Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms

• Swelling around the neck

Possible Causes

Generally, A lump in the neck can be related to:

• Suppurative Lymphadenitis

  Lymphadenitis suppurativa is the inflammation and suppuration (pus formation) of lymph nodes in the body.

• Necrotizing Lymphadenitis (Kikuchi Disease)

  This rare disease usually affects young people and is characterized by swollen neck lymph nodes and fever. The exact cause remains unknown, but it may be due to infection or the body's immune system reacting.

• Acute Tonsillitis / Pharyngitis

  Infection of the tonsils and pharynx (back of the mouth), either by viruses or bacteria.

• Roseola

Related Serious Diseases

Sometimes, A lump in the neck may be related to these serious diseases:

• Cervical Lymphadenitis

  This refers to the swelling of the neck's lymph nodes caused by inflammation. It's often due to a viral or bacterial infection and is common among children.

• Mumps
• Rubella
• Kawasaki Disease
• Infectious Mononucleosis
• Idiopathic Esophageal Rupture

Doctor's Diagnostic Questions

Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:

• Is your neck swollen?
• Is your neck swelling easily visible to others?
• How has your neck swelling changed since it started?
• How long have you had neck swelling?

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