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What Causes Lymph Node Swelling In Neck?
Question: My 20 year old daughter has an enlarged lymph node in her neck with no other symptoms. The swelling began about a week ago. She began taking antibiotics 2 days ago (Cephalexin 500mg), but the swelling seems to be increasing vs decreasing. Any thoughts on what might be causing the symptoms?
Brief Answer:
You could wait for 4 to 5 days or change antibiotics.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Lymph node swellings are fairly common.
It should decrease with antibiotics if it is inflammatory. You could either change the antibiotic to a more broad spectrum covering skin commensals like Tab Augmentin 625 mg thrice a day or wait for 5 days of the antibiotic to complete. If there is pain around the swelling then adding an anti inflammatory medicine would help. Adding simply Tab Paracetamol might help decrease the swelling.
The node swelling will not completely disappear with any medicine it will only decrease in size and then stay like that for many months which is normal.
If it does not decrease over the next 7 days then you can get an FNAC test done. In this, they will put a small needle into the swelling and aspirate some cells to see what kind of swelling it is.
I hope I have been able to help you.
Do let me know how I can guide you further or answer any further queries you might have on this issue.
Take care,
Dr Rishi, New XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
You could wait for 4 to 5 days or change antibiotics.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Lymph node swellings are fairly common.
It should decrease with antibiotics if it is inflammatory. You could either change the antibiotic to a more broad spectrum covering skin commensals like Tab Augmentin 625 mg thrice a day or wait for 5 days of the antibiotic to complete. If there is pain around the swelling then adding an anti inflammatory medicine would help. Adding simply Tab Paracetamol might help decrease the swelling.
The node swelling will not completely disappear with any medicine it will only decrease in size and then stay like that for many months which is normal.
If it does not decrease over the next 7 days then you can get an FNAC test done. In this, they will put a small needle into the swelling and aspirate some cells to see what kind of swelling it is.
I hope I have been able to help you.
Do let me know how I can guide you further or answer any further queries you might have on this issue.
Take care,
Dr Rishi, New XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
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