Whenever I am sick, with a cold - anything, one lymph node swells (right under my ear) to the size of a marble. I also have some swelling of lymph nodes in my neck. The surest way for me to know that I'm getting sick is to check underneath my ear. Most people that I talk to do not have this indication of sickness. Sometimes I feel that one node is doing all the work and therefore swells. It depends on how sick I am or if I get an antibotic to cure whatever is wrong - to the time that it lasts - but it has lasted more than a couple of weeks. Is it normal for one gland to swell so big EVERY time I get a cold or anything?
Reply: ------------------------
Swelling and tenderness in lymph nodes during an upper respiratory infection is a normal immunological response. Some people are more aware of lymph node swelling than others simply because they have thinner necks and can palpate the swollen glands more easily. As long as the nodal swelling resolves eventually (within a few weeks) after onset and after resolution of the upper respiratory infection, this would be considered normal.
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Steve Dankle, MD
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Milwaukee, Wis
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