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I am a 24 year old female and for the past couple of weeks the left side of my neck is somewhat swollen. You wouldnt be able to tell looking at it, but you can tell by touching it. My left lymph node is also a bit swollen compared to the right one. There is a slight pain where my neck is swollen. It is a little hard to swollow at times, but when I drink green tea it allows me to swollow a lot easier. I went to the Dr. a few days ago and was perscribed an antibiotic for an infection in the throat, which I have been taking for about 2 full days and the pain has subsided a little bit, but not the swelling. There is still a little bit of pain and also still a small amount of swelling. Please advise what this might be? Should I be more patient with the antiobiotics or should I go ahead and call the doctor to be referred to an ENT? Maybe a thyroid problem, cancer, etc. Please advise as I have been super worried in regard to this.
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1337001 tn?1276883841
Hi,

I would like to educate you in this regard, nodes which appeared in the neck and below the chin is because of the infection in the throat and the oral cavity. If the infection is in the ear, then the pre and post auricular lymph nodes should enlarge. Its unlikely for the neck nodes to enlarge in case of any discharge or infection in the ear. Be patient, your neck nodes will disappear slowly. Any more doubts you are welcome.

Regards

OHNS2010
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Avatar universal
They took a culture of my ear and found there was an staph infection in both ears and stated that because of the staph infection was the reason why my lymph nodes in the neck were swollen as well as the one under my chin on the left side. I took the ear drops for 4 times a day for 10 days and I still have the swollen nodes in my neck and under my chin, but just on the left side. I have been drinking green tea and lots of water to help for about 2 weeks now, but the swelling is still there. Sometimes the neck nodes and left lymph nodes are sometimes swollen and sometimes they are not. Please advise.

I thank you for your efforts and writing with me.

Thank you,

Adieren Narro
Helpful - 0
1337001 tn?1276883841
Hi,

In the first instance, why was the ear drops prescribed for your neck swelling? Secondly, the history you have mentioned goes in the favor of Acute pharyngitis. So during the course of infection it is indeed common for the neck nodes to get swollen, as those are sites of lymphatic drainage from the throat. If you are feeling better with the antibiotics, that means the infection has subsided but the lymph nodes are yet to regress, which is very common. So no need to worry, try drinking plenty of warm water, do povidone iodine throat gargles 2-3 times everyday after food. Any more doubts you are welcome.

Regards
OHNS2010
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Avatar universal
Hello,

I was taken off the Amoxicillin and given drops to treat a staph infection in my ears. I have now gone threw the entire course of ear drops and still having the symptoms of swelling in the neck with a little pain as well as a tender left lymph node. They are now referring my to the ENT here in town. Someone please help me ease my mind. Could it be that the infection is deeper than what the ear drops can reach and the reason for the swelling in my neck on that side and the left lymph node tender and swollen? Since I had the infection in both ears, wouldn't it be logical for both sides of the neck to be swollen with pain and tender lymph nodes? Please advise your thoughts to help me with this.

Thank you,

Adieren Narro
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi,

Thank you so much for responding. I was prescribed amoxicillan taking twice a day with 22 pills. I will see how I feel once I finish the antibiotics before I jump to conclusions, which is what I always do. Thank u for taking the time to respond as I have been really worried about this.......
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Avatar universal
Hello,
I would suggest that you be patient with the antibiotic treatment first. It can take a while to really see improvement.  Certain antibiotics are effective for several days (up to a week) after the last dose was taken.  Check to see if you are one of those types of antibiotics by checking with your pharmacist or doctor.  Azithromiacin (Z-pac) is a common one for that.  

What antibiotic are you on?  Hom many mgs/day? and how many days?  

If you run the course of the antibiotic and are still having symptoms, be sure to contact your prescribing dr's office and tell them as you don't want the infection to come back immedicately because it was not adequately treated.  Also, you could ask your dr to monitor the infection with CBC blood test.  I simple blood test to watch your white blood cell count and make sure that the infection is cleared when you stop taking the antibiotic.  I like when the test is done before antibiotics are prescribed as this eliminates some of the over use of antibiotics.

If the antibiotics don't work, I am sure your doctor will order a CT scan to get a better picture of what is going on.  Be patient with treatment, but don't let the symptoms continue or ignore them.

Feel better.
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