HI I have gone through your mail, as you said that you have sore throat with headache and you have noticed enlarge tender occipital lymph nodes. You quit smoking about two week back, This quit of smoking may contribute in your headache but your headache is mainly due to enlarge tender occipital lymph nodes, as for as primary site of infection for occipital lymph nodes is concern your sore throat is less likely because throat is mainly drain to jugulodiagestric lymph nodes ( lymph nodes at the angle of jaw),for occipital lymph nodes you should have some thing in your scalp like - Dandruff, Boils, scretch lines on scalp, or boil on back of neck , if you don t have any of these than F.N.A.C. from occipital lymph node is must to confirm the pathology than after that can be treated. Thanks.