What are swollen glands?
The lumps that you feel in your neck or under your jaw when you have a cold or a sore throat are called lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are part of the body’s immune system. They help to destroy infectious germs, such as viruses (e.g., the common cold virus) and bacteria (e.g., strep). The lymph nodes make antibodies that will help keep you from being infected with a particular germ in the future. Lymph nodes are located in the areas beside the head and the neck region. They can be found in the armpits, the groin, above the elbow, and deep inside the chest and the abdomen (belly). Their function is the same regardless of their location. top What causes enlarged lymph nodes? When lymph nodes are active in fighting infection, they may become swollen and painful. Usually, the pain is mild, and the lymph node does not get much bigger than 2 centimeters (slightly under 1 inch) in size. While lymph nodes are the most common cause of a lump or a bump in the neck, there are other, much less common ca
