May 25, 2012
Topics A-Z Cancer What is the Cause of My Swollen Neck Glands?
What is the Cause of My Swollen Neck Glands? |
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Dear Ask The Doctor: The glands in my neck are all swollen and painful when i move my jaw,as a baby my doctor told me to keep an eye on my glands are they are larger than they should be, what could be causing this? Dear Josie: The swelling in your neck could be caused due to either a viral or bacterial infection of the salivary glands. In most of the cases the swelling will subside on its own. But if you notice that the fever is not subsiding, the swelling is getting bigger and more painful, you may need to visit your doctor to rule out an abscess and give antibiotic treatment. Drinking plenty of water and warm saline rinses of the mouth will help. Swelling of lymph nodes from bacterial or viral infections can last up to 3 weeks. If the swelling persists beyond that, it is advisable to see your doctor for consideration of imaging of the lymph node or possible blood work to consider more serious causes such as cancer. Recommended blood work includes CBC, ESR, lytes, kidney function, liver function and certain blood markers for infectious diseases. |
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| Last Updated ( Thursday, 27 October 2011 ) |
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