Symptom guide
Swollen glands in the neck: causes, red flags and when to get it checked
Lumps in the neck that are tender, soft and appeared during a cold or sore throat are almost always reactive lymph nodes and shrink within two to four weeks. Hard, painless, growing or persistent nodes, or nodes with night sweats and weight loss, should be examined promptly.
Last checked: 2026-10-03
Key facts
At a glance.
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Usually infection
Neck glands swell as part of a normal response to throat, ear, tooth or skin infections.
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Time frame
Reactive nodes usually shrink within two to four weeks; those lasting beyond that should be assessed.
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Worrying features
Hard, fixed, painless, growing nodes, or those with weight loss and night sweats, need prompt referral.
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Size and location
Nodes above the collarbone are more concerning than those under the jaw.
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Who to see
GP; ultrasound and ENT or haematology if persistent or suspicious.
What this symptom usually means
Lymph nodes filter fluid from the head and neck and swell as immune cells multiply in response to infection or inflammation. They normally feel soft or rubbery, move under the skin and may be tender. The nodes below the jaw and along the sides of the neck are the ones most often noticed.
Possible causes, from most to least common
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Viral upper respiratory infection, tonsillitis, ear infection or sinusitis.
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Dental abscess or gum infection, with nodes under the jaw.
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Glandular fever, with widespread nodes, sore throat and marked fatigue.
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Skin infections of the scalp or face, and insect bites.
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Other infections, including cat scratch disease, tuberculosis and HIV, depending on risk factors.
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Autoimmune conditions such as lupus and sarcoidosis.
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Lymphoma or leukaemia: painless, rubbery, progressively enlarging nodes, often with fevers, drenching night sweats and weight loss.
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Cancer spread from the head and neck, thyroid or elsewhere, particularly in older smokers, with a hard fixed node.
Features that point to something more serious
A node over 2 cm or growing, hard or fixed to surrounding tissue, painless, located above the collarbone, lasting over three to four weeks, with fevers, drenching night sweats, unexplained weight loss, persistent itch or breathlessness, or accompanied by hoarseness or difficulty swallowing, warrants urgent review.
Red flags: when to seek help
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Call 999 or go to A&E: swelling in the neck with difficulty breathing or swallowing, or a rapidly enlarging tender swelling with fever.
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Urgent GP referral: an unexplained neck lump persisting beyond three weeks, or a hard painless node.
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GP within days: swollen glands with high fever, a sore throat that is worsening, or with weight loss.
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Routine: soft tender glands during a cold that are getting smaller.
What a doctor will ask and examine
Questions cover how long, whether it is tender, growing, associated infection or dental problems, fever, night sweats, weight loss, itch, smoking, alcohol, travel and contacts. The examination includes the nodes in the neck, armpits and groin, the mouth and throat, thyroid, skin of the scalp and face, and the abdomen for spleen or liver enlargement.
Tests that are commonly used and why
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Blood tests: full blood count, inflammatory markers, glandular fever and other infection screens.
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Ultrasound with or without needle biopsy: the first imaging test for a persistent lump.
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Lymph node biopsy: to examine the tissue when lymphoma or cancer is possible.
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CT scan: for staging or to find a primary source.
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Nasendoscopy: to examine the throat for a primary tumour.
Self-care and the usual route
Rest, drink fluids and treat pain with simple painkillers while an infection settles. Keep a note of the lump size and date it appeared. Maintain good oral hygiene and see a dentist for dental problems. Do not repeatedly squeeze or prod the lump.
The NHS route is a GP, with a fast-track suspected-cancer pathway and a one-stop neck lump clinic for suspicious cases. Private ENT clinics can offer ultrasound and needle biopsy in one visit.
Frequently asked
Questions people ask.
Quick, plain-English answers to the questions we hear most.
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How long do swollen glands last?
Reactive nodes usually shrink within two to four weeks after the infection settles. Nodes lasting beyond that should be checked.
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Are painful glands more likely to be benign?
Tender nodes usually suggest infection, but pain does not rule out other causes. Persistent nodes need review whatever their tenderness.
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What is a neck lump clinic?
A one-stop service where examination, ultrasound and often needle sampling are done in a single visit.
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Could swollen glands mean cancer?
Usually not, but hard, painless, growing nodes persisting beyond several weeks are assessed to exclude lymphoma or cancer.
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What is glandular fever?
A viral illness causing sore throat, swollen glands and heavy tiredness, most common in teenagers and young adults.
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Do I need a biopsy?
Only if ultrasound or examination is suspicious. Many nodes are reassuring on ultrasound and need no further action.
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What else can cause a neck lump?
Thyroid nodules, salivary gland swellings, cysts and, less often, other benign growths.
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Can dental problems cause it?
Yes. An infected tooth or gum often causes tender nodes under the jaw that settle after dental treatment.
Where this comes from
Sources and checking.
This guide is for information, not medical advice.
Your GP or consultant knows your history and can tell you which parts apply to you. If your symptoms are severe, rapidly worsening, or come with red-flag features, seek urgent medical care. Figures and availability change, so treat them as a guide and confirm with the provider.
Published 2026-10-03, next review 2027-10-03.
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NHS: Swollen glands (nhs.uk/conditions/swollen-glands/)
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NICE guideline NG12: Suspected cancer - recognition and referral
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NHS: Glandular fever (nhs.uk/conditions/glandular-fever/)