Have Lymph Node Under Jaw, Growing Quickly And Difficulty In Opening Mouth Due To Pain. Suggest?

Posted on Mon, 5 Aug 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 5 Aug 2013 Answered on

Fri, 23 Aug 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : Hello. I have a lymph node under my left jaw that is growing quickly. I have just noticed that I have difficulty opening my mouth due to pain in that area. I have no visible signs of a tooth abscess; my gums look healthy.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (12 minutes later)

Hi and welcome to XXXXXXX Thanks for the query.
swollen lymph node is not only sign of tooth infection,it can develop due to any other infection such as respiratory, throat,ear or some systemic infections.
Rarely it can be some subcutaneous lesion such as lipoma, abscess or fibroma and if there is tender,painful,fixed bump,it may indicate more serious diagnoses. Bit I suggest to wait 7-10 days to see will some signs of infection ocur and will it decrease in size. If not,needle biopsy and ultrasound should be done. Wish you good health.regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar