![]() Have you recently had sex with a new partner?.Have you recently been exposed to new animals? Were you bitten or scratched?.Have you recently traveled to another country or to tick-inhabited regions? Did anyone who traveled with you get sick?.What medications are you currently taking?.Have you experienced any difficulty breathing?.Do you have a sore throat or difficulty swallowing?.Have you been experiencing a fever or night sweats?.Have your affected lymph nodes gotten larger over time?.When did you first begin experiencing symptoms?.Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, such as: Do you have any brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What websites do you recommend?.Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing for me?.Do I need to change the treatments I've been using? How can I prevent this from happening in the future?.Am I contagious? How can I reduce the risk of infecting others?.How quickly will I start to feel better?.What are other possible causes for my symptoms?.Include every prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drug you use, as well as any vitamins and supplements.įor swollen lymph nodes, some basic questions to ask your doctor include: Make a list of your key medical information, including other conditions you're being treated for and the names of the medications that you're taking.These may include travel abroad, hiking in areas known to have ticks, eating undercooked meat, being scratched by a cat, or engaging in high-risk sexual behavior or sex with a new partner. Make a list of all recent exposures to possible sources of infection.Include on your list every symptom, from mild to severe, that you've noticed since your lymph nodes began to swell. Among other symptoms, your doctor will want to know if you've had flu-like symptoms, such as a fever or sore throat, and may ask whether you've noticed changes in your weight. List any symptoms you've been experiencing, and for how long.At the time you make the appointment, ask if you need to do anything in advance. Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions.Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment. When you call to set up your appointment, you may be urged to seek immediate medical care if you're experiencing severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing or swallowing. If you have swollen lymph nodes, you're likely to start by first seeing your family doctor. You often need rest to aid your recovery from the underlying condition. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns. Though aspirin is approved for use in children older than age 2, children and teenagers recovering from chickenpox or flu-like symptoms should never take aspirin. Use caution when giving aspirin to children or teenagers. These include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Aleve) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others). Take an over-the-counter pain reliever.Apply a warm, wet compress, such as a washcloth dipped in hot water and wrung out, to the affected area. If your swollen lymph nodes are tender or painful, you might get some relief by doing the following: He or she will remove a sample from a lymph node or even an entire lymph node for microscopic examination. Your doctor may have you undergo a biopsy to secure the diagnosis. A chest X-ray or computerized tomography (CT) scan of the affected area may help determine potential sources of infection or find tumors. This test helps evaluate your overall health and detect a range of disorders, including infections and leukemia. The specific tests will depend on the suspected cause, but most likely will include a complete blood count (CBC). Certain blood tests may help confirm or exclude any suspected underlying conditions. The site of your swollen lymph nodes and your other signs and symptoms will offer clues to the underlying cause. Your doctor will also want to check lymph nodes near the surface of your skin for size, tenderness, warmth and texture. Your doctor will want to know when and how your swollen lymph nodes developed and if you have any other signs or symptoms. To diagnose what might be causing your swollen lymph nodes, your doctor may need:
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