Does COVID Cause Swollen Lymph Nodes in Your Neck?

If you’ve recently come down with COVID-19, you may notice that your neck glands feel swollen or tender. It’s normal to wonder what’s going on and what to do. Here’s what to know about how COVID infection can lead to swollen lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy).

What causes swollen glands (lymph nodes)?

There are hundreds of lymph nodes throughout your body. You can feel lymph nodes that are closer to the skin, like those in your armpit, groin, and neck. 

Usually, lymph nodes are small — about 1 cm, or the size of a pea. They swell when your body experiences an infection, which is when they’re more likely to catch your attention.

Lymph nodes are checkpoints for infection. When lymph nodes detect a virus or bacteria, they start pumping out white blood cells to fight off infection. This makes lymph nodes swell and feel tender. 

There are lots of possible causes of swollen lymph nodes, including:

• Mild infections, like the common cold and the flu

• More serious infections, like measles, mononucleosis, and Lyme disease

• Autoimmune diseases, like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis

• Cancer and its treatment

Can COVID cause swollen lymph nodes?

Yes, COVID illness can lead to swollen lymph nodes, especially swollen neck lymph nodes. This isn’t one of the most common symptoms of COVID. But you may have swollen lymph nodes even with a mild COVID infection. Swollen lymph nodes can cause pain in your neck, ear, or throat. You might notice symptoms on one or both sides of your body.

Since many people experience COVID sore throat and upper respiratory tract infections, the lymph nodes in your neck and in front of your ear are often the first to respond to the virus. Swollen lymph nodes can also happen in other parts of your body. But you may not be able to feel them as easily because they aren’t as close to your skin.

Lymph node swelling starts within a few days of coming down with COVID infection. This swelling can take several weeks to go away.

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Can the COVID vaccine cause swollen lymph nodes?

Yes, the COVID vaccine can cause swollen neck lymph nodes and other side effects. Other vaccines — like the HPV and flu vaccines — can also cause lymph node swelling. Side effects aside, the CDC still recommends that everyone 6 months and older get the updated COVID vaccine.

The mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) are more likely to cause swollen lymph nodes, especially in your neck and armpit. 

Lymph-node swelling after COVID vaccination isn’t uncommon. One study found that people were more likely to develop swelling after their second dose or booster shot. Swelling can start 2 to 4 days after vaccination and may last for several weeks.

How do you treat swollen lymph nodes from COVID or the COVID vaccine?

Swollen lymph nodes from COVID illness or vaccination don’t need specific treatment. The swelling will go away on its own and rarely lead to any complications like infection. In the meantime, over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin), can help relieve discomfort and may temporarily bring down swelling. 

But it’s important to be sure that COVID illness or vaccination is the cause of your swollen lymph nodes. As noted above, there are many other causes of swollen lymph nodes, ranging from minor infections to serious illnesses like autoimmune diseases and cancer. So, it’s important to figure out the cause. Taking a COVID test is a good place to start if you’re feeling unwell and haven’t had a recent COVID vaccine. 

When to contact a healthcare professional

Early in the COVID pandemic, there was a lot of uncertainty about how to keep people safe. Many hospitals and healthcare systems were overwhelmed, making it hard for people to get the care they needed — including routine checkups and exams.

Some people waited to have swollen lymph nodes checked. They blamed the problem on COVID or the vaccine — only to discover that they actually had cancer. 

Others faced the opposite problem. They went in for evaluation, had scans and biopsies, and were relieved to find out that they were OK. But they faced large medical bills and dealt with emotional stress and anxiety. 

In response, experts made recommendations to address these issues. Now, people can know when to get help, and healthcare professionals can determine when it’s safe to take a “wait-and-see” approach. 

Here are some tips from the guidelines:

• If you need a mammogram or any other imaging studies of your head and neck, get it done before your COVID vaccine. The vaccine can affect your results. If that’s not possible, wait 6 weeks after your vaccine to get your imaging study. That way, the imaging study won’t pick up enlarged lymph nodes from your COVID vaccine. 

• If you still have swollen lymph nodes 3 to 4 weeks after COVID illness or vaccination, see a healthcare professional. They can measure the lymph nodes to make sure they are getting smaller over time. They may also run blood tests to check for signs of cancer or infection. 

• If you have a history of cancer on one side of your body, be sure to get your COVID vaccine on the opposite side. 

• See a healthcare professional right away if you have large lymph nodes in multiple areas of your body. 

• See a healthcare professional right away if you have swollen lymph nodes in your neck or armpit along with other symptoms like fever, night sweats, and weight loss. 

Remember, if you’re worried about swollen lymph nodes or think they’re getting bigger, it’s always best to see a healthcare professional. Sometimes a quick exam is enough to rule out more serious conditions. 

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Written by:

Ronald W. Dworkin, MD, PhD

Ronald W. Dworkin, MD, is a board-certified anesthesiologist who has been practicing anesthesiology in a community hospital for 30 years. He has taught in the honors program at George Washington University for over 10 years and works as a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute.

Edited by:

Alex Eastman, PhD, RN

Alex Eastman, PhD, RN, is a California-based registered nurse and staff medical editor at GoodRx, where he focuses on clinical updates and Latino health.

Reviewed by:

Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP

Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP, has more than 15 years of experience as an attending pediatrician in a variety of clinical settings. She has worked in a large academic center in an urban city, a small community hospital, a private practice, and an urgent care clinic.

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