The appearance of a lump in the neck is usually a sign of inflammation of the tongue due to an infection, but it can also be caused by a lump in the thyroid or a contracture in the neck, for example. These lumps can be painless or cause pain and discomfort, and may appear in different areas of the neck, such as the neck, behind the ears or in the anterior area of the neck, for example.
It is important to see your doctor when the lump in your neck doesn’t go away over time or other symptoms appear, such as excessive fatigue, difficulty swallowing, general discomfort, and weight loss for no apparent reason.
The main causes of neck lumps are
When the lymph nodes become inflamed, they form tongues that develop in lumps. These lumps may appear in the back of the neck or side behind the ear, depending on the lymph node that is ignited, causing pain and discomfort to the touch.
The tongue may be caused by infections or inflammations such as inflammation of the teeth, flu, tonsillitis or otitis, for example, and do not require specific treatment, as they eventually disappear when the cause of the problem is treated. Therefore, to treat the tongue, it is advisable to consult the doctor so that he can identify and treat the causes of inflammation of the lymph nodes and associate it with rest and good hydration. Learn more about neck water.
However, if the size of the tongue does not decrease for a while or if other symptoms appear, you should consult a doctor as this may be a symptom of a more serious problem such as sarcoidosis and Hodgkin lymphoma, which is a type that affects the lymph nodes. Understand what Hodgkin’s lymphoma is.
What to do: It is recommended to rest and hydrate, in addition to identifying and eliminating the cause that generated the water, since it is not necessary to take a specific remedy to treat it. However, your doctor may recommend pain relievers or anti-inflammatory medications to relieve pain or tenderness in the area. In addition, you can take an infusion of eucalyptus and use clay compresses, as they help reduce inflammation and strengthen your body’s defenses.
When a lump appears in the anterior part of the neck, this may indicate the presence of a thyroid nodule, which should be evaluated by an endocrinologist. Thyroid nodules usually don’t cause symptoms, but in some cases they can cause sore throat, swelling of the neck, or shortness of breath and swallowing.
When these nodules appear, it is necessary to consult an endocrinologist to assess the signs and symptoms of the person, in addition to performing diagnostic tests such as a biopsy, which will determine if the nodule is benign or if there is a risk of cancer. Learn how to identify the thyroid nodule.
What to do: If the nodule is benign and there are no symptoms or changes in the hormones in this gland, annual ultrasound and blood tests are recommended. On the other hand, in case of symptoms, changes in hormone levels or if there is a risk of cancer, your doctor will recommend the most appropriate treatment, which may include medications such as levothyroxine or radioactive iodine, or the need for surgery to remove the nodule.
Neck contractures can cause a painful lump in the back of the neck and occur when the muscle contracts incorrectly and does not return to its normal state of rest. Generally, these types of shocks are hard and are accompanied by pain and discomfort in the affected area, in addition there is limited movement. Here’s how to identify muscle contracture.
What to do: To treat muscle contracture in the neck area, it is recommended to take a very hot water bath, apply hot compresses to the sore area, massage the area with anti-inflammatory ointments, such as Cataflam, and stretch the muscles. of the body. Neck. In addition, your doctor may prescribe the use of relaxing muscle medications, such as Miosan, to relieve discomfort associated with contracture.
When contractures do not give way, worsen, or cause persistent pain for more than 7 days, it is recommended to consult a doctor or physical therapist to evaluate other ways to treat the problem.
Sebaceous cysts, which form on the skin due to the accumulation of sebum, which is an oily substance produced on the skin for lubrication and hair protection, are another possible cause that can cause a lump to appear in the neck.
This type of lumps or cysts are small, soft and do not cause pain, but when they become inflamed they cause redness, pain and increase in temperature in the area where they appear.
What to do: Treatment of these lumps requires an evaluation by a dermatologist, who may indicate that minor surgery is performed to remove the cyst. Learn more about treating sebaceous cysts.
In the most severe cases, the appearance of a lump in the neck may indicate the presence of cancer and, in these cases, the lump is accompanied by other symptoms, such as hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, a lump in the throat, frequent suffocation, unexplained weight loss and general discomfort. Tumors that appear in the neck may be local structures, such as muscles, lymph nodes, skin, or organs found in this area, such as the thyroid, or they may be a metastasis.
What to do: In the presence of a nodule associated with the aforementioned symptoms, it is recommended to consult the doctor as soon as possible, so that the diagnosis can be made and the best treatment indicated.
Infectious mumps, better known as mumps or mumps, is presented as a lump between the ear and chin due to inflammation of the parotid glands, which are saliva-producing glands, when affected by the paramyxoviridae family virus. In addition to the lump in the neck, the person may have fever and pain in this area.
What to do: The treatment of mumps is done to relieve symptoms of the disease and, therefore, the family doctor or pediatrician may recommend the use of painkillers, such as acetaminophen, to reduce discomfort, in addition to rest, the intake of water and pasty foods that are also important to improve symptoms until the body can remove the virus from the mumps.