lymph node?

[anxietymcc]

I think i just have a cold, because i am a little congested and tired, but in front of my ear, the preaurricular lymph node (yes i looked it up) is swollen and a little bit sensitive to the touch. I am freaking out because it is kind of a weird place to have a lymph node be enlarged. Any ideas, anyone ever have this happen to them? Is lymph node swelling usually just a sign of a respiratory virus or something?

[sanderella]

It's probably just because you have the cold. Do you tend to get swollen lymph nodes in other places at times? When I get a cold usually a lymph node behind my ear will swell and be sore to the touch. I think they're the closest ones to where all the infection is. 

[powderkeg241]

I agree with sanderella. If you get sore throats aor a head cold you will see your lymph nodes in your neck or under your ear enlarge due to them fighting infections in the atrea. They will probably swell, unswell, and swell constantly for the next few days. Also, if you continue to check them ( I do this constantly) you can irritate them and they enlarge as well.

[kuteness82]

Yes anx infections and viruses can make your nodes swell. I have a node on the left side of my neck it's a normal sized node i've done a scan on it it's fine. It's the same size as before hasn't gotten bigger or anything I've stopped poking it so I think it went down a little. It never goes back to the way it was but you can still feel it. Alot of people can feel em. Mine showed up because of an infection. Your fine. No worries.

[Ann Onimous]

Not only has myself but my kids have had that very lymph node swollen when we had a cold (or allergies)

When my son's swelled I freaked out (it was huge) I rushed him in because I freaked out. They told me he was fine and it is very common to have it swell like that.
So dont worry. You can always go get it checked out at the dr if you get really worried.