How is an enlarged lymph node treated?
Sometimes, an enlarged lymph node needs no treatment at all, particularly if it is enlarged because it is fighting a viral infection. Occasionally, antibiotics will be prescribed if the lymph node is infected with a bacterial germ or is enlarged due to a bacterial infection (e.g., strep throat). If the lymph node tenderness is a problem, acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be taken to ease the discomfort. Although steroids (prednisone) will cause the lymph nodes to decrease in size, regardless of the cause of the enlargement, it is strongly discouraged because it could mask a serious underlying cause of the enlarged nodes, delay the correct diagnosis, and, possibly, complicate the treatment. Rarely, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the lymph node so that it can be examined under the microscope for the presence of cancer or unusual infections. Usually, a course of antibiotics is administered first, before surgery is recommended. However, surgery is most likely to happen if: • the
