Lymph node enlargement cause and treatment

Lymph nodes are found throughout the body. They are an important part of the immune system. They help the body recognize and fight germs, infections, and other foreign substances. The term "swollen glands" refers to enlargement of one or more lymph nodes. Swelling might occur even if the infection is trivial or not apparent. Lymph nodes (sometimes wrongly called lymph glands) are a part of the lymphatic system, a component of the body's immune system.

Cause
Lymph nodes can become swollen from infection, inflammatory conditions, an abscess, or cancer. Other causes of enlarged lymph nodes are rare. By far, the most common cause of swollen lymph nodes is infection.As lymph nodes are a part of the immune system that fights infections in the body, the presence of infection often causes lymph nodes to increase in size.

Common areas where the lymph nodes can be felt with the fingers include:
Groin
Armpit
Neck (there is a chain of lymph nodes on either side of the front of the neck, both sides of the neck, and down each side of the back of the neck)
Under the jaw and chin
Behind the ears
On the back of the head