Thick neck

Under a thick or. swollen throat medical professionals understand a swelling in the neck area. This can be visually visible and / or palpable and have very different causes, which under certain circumstances can also be of a more serious nature.

What is a thick neck

Since there are several different organs located in the neck area, some of which fulfill vital functions, the cause of a thick neck should be clarified by a doctor.

A thick neck (neck swelling) describes, as the name suggests, one or more swellings in the neck area. This can be more superficial and therefore harmless swellings that do not hinder swallowing or speaking, for example.

The swellings can also extend into the inner area of ​​the throat and cause problems with swallowing or, in the worst case, with breathing.

Since there are several different organs located in the neck area, some of which fulfill vital functions, the cause of a thick neck should be clarified by a doctor in order to rule out later health problems or even a life-threatening condition of the patient.

causes

A thick neck can have many different causes. This includes a disease of the thyroid gland, which may cause a clearly visible swelling (the so-called goiter).

Swollen lymph nodes are also sometimes clearly visible. They can indicate inflammation that is present in the body. The flu or a bad cold are often the reason for a thick throat, which also makes it difficult to swallow.

Mumps or scarlet fever are not only responsible for a swollen throat in children. Last but not least, a tumor in the neck area can also be responsible for swelling. The attending physician can clarify the exact causes as part of a comprehensive examination.

You can find your medication here

➔ Medicines against swelling of the lymph nodes

Diseases with this symptom

• Tonsillar angina
• Jugular vein thrombosis
• Hashimoto's thyroiditis
• Goiter
• cold

• Graves disease
• Inflammation of the thyroid gland
• Sore throat
• mumps
• Sarcoid

• Hodgkin's disease
• Glandular Pfeiffer fever
• Lateral cord angina
• Scarlet fever
• Thyroid cancer

Diagnosis & course

In the case of a thick neck, a detailed discussion with the patient takes place before the actual examination. The attending physician can then feel the swelling and, for example, perform a blood test to determine possible changes in the blood count.

If necessary, a tissue sample can be taken from the lymph nodes, for example, or a computer tomography can be performed. Appropriate therapy can then be initiated based on the diagnosis made.

The course depends on the type of illness and cannot be given in general terms. While a flu-like infection is usually over after a few days, intensive therapy must be initiated in the case of cancer, for example.

Complications

"Thick neck" complications are closely related to the causes. For example, if an abscess connects to a blood vessel in the throat, there is a risk of blood poisoning or a brain abscess with a life-threatening course. If an abscess is located retropharyngeally, i.e. behind the pharynx, spreading to a cervical vertebra must be considered as a possible complication. There is also the risk that the abscess will sink into the chest cavity. A life-threatening course cannot be ruled out in this regard either.

The Bezold abscess can spread to the bone ([[mastoiditis). A further spread to the neck muscle as a far-reaching complication must be avoided.

The peritonsillar abscess caused by bacterial tonsillitis can develop into a parapharyngeal abscess in the throat if treated improperly or too late. Until then, complications such as:

• difficulty swallowing on one side
• Fever with general weakness
• Earache
• Difficulty opening your mouth

to be marked.

The retropharyngeal abscess can contribute to the purulent melting of involved lymph nodes after an injury or bacterial inflammation.

Another serious complication that can result from tonsillitis causing a thick throat is rheumatic fever.This is characterized by painful inflammation of various joints as well as the heart valves and the heart muscle. Kidney inflammation is extremely rare in connection with tonsillitis.

The goiter, another cause of a thick neck, can lead to functional autonomy. In rare cases, a malignant tumor (thyroid cancer) develops as a further complication.

When should you go to the doctor?

A "thick neck" is to be understood in the medical sense as a swollen neck. If it is not visible, it can at least be felt. There are many different causes of a thick neck, including harmless and serious ones. With superficial swelling, those affected rarely experience symptoms Internal swelling of the throat, on the other hand, can impair swallowing and even breathing.

The thick neck in the form of a goiter is known, triggered by a malfunction of the thyroid gland. Swollen lymph nodes are also often responsible for a thick neck, often as a symptom of a severe cold, flu, or tonsillitis. In addition to various other diseases, a thick neck also includes a tumor in the neck area. It may be necessary to take a tissue sample.

The family doctor can already serve his patient well in finding a diagnosis. When taking the anamnesis, he asks about other complaints such as swallowing difficulties, earache, fever and feeling of weakness. In addition, the family doctor can refer his patient to a specialist, for example an internist, cardiologist, endocrinologist, ear, nose and throat doctor, rheumatologist, nephrologist or oncologist and, if necessary, to a pediatrician.

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Treatment & Therapy

Once the thick neck has been examined by a doctor and a diagnosis has been made, the doctor can begin the appropriate therapy. Flu or tonsillitis do not always require medical treatment; however, the healing can be supported with antibiotics or similar drugs.

Thyroid diseases can often be treated well with medication. If the lymph nodes are swollen, this is often caused by an inflammatory disease, which is usually also treated with appropriate medication. If the attending physician has discovered a cyst or a fistula, it should be surgically removed. These swellings are harmless; but they can be painful and therefore very stressful.

If cancer has been diagnosed, surgery may also be an option, depending on which parts are affected by the disease. In addition, chemotherapy is initiated to prevent the cancer cells from growing and spreading.

Since at first glance it can sometimes not be determined whether there is a harmless cause or a serious illness behind the thick neck, a doctor should be consulted if the symptoms persist for several weeks or are accompanied by fever or severe pain.

Outlook & forecast

In most cases, a thick neck is just a harmless symptom that often goes away on its own. This is especially the case if it is about flu or tonsillitis. These diseases can easily be treated with antibiotics and do not lead to any further symptoms. The neck itself swells up again after a few days.

If the thick neck indicates a thyroid disorder, treatment by a doctor is necessary. In this case, a cyst may also be responsible for the swelling on the neck. This must be surgically removed. No general prognosis can be given for cancer. Chemotherapy, however, is successful for most people.

Without treatment, the throat will only swell if it has flu or tonsillitis. Generally healthy eating with lots of fruit and vegetables helps here.

You can find your medication here

➔ Medicines against swelling of the lymph nodes

prevention

Since the causes of a thick neck or neck swelling can be very diverse, direct prevention is not possible. Certain diseases can certainly be prevented through a healthy lifestyle and regular preventive examinations. If throat swelling occurs acutely as part of an infection and disappears again when the symptoms subside, medical advice is often not necessary.

In case of doubt, however, a doctor should always be consulted, especially if the symptoms persist for a long time and result in a general deterioration in the state of health. This is the only way to rule out serious illnesses.

You can do that yourself

Whether and what patients can do about a thick throat depends on the causes of the problem. The first time it occurs, the causes must be clarified by a doctor, as life-threatening diseases such as thyroid cancer can be hidden behind them.

If the thick neck is a so-called iodine deficiency goitre, self-therapy must be avoided. However, the patients can do a lot to ensure that this does not come to that. To prevent iodine deficiency, the German Nutrition Society recommends 200 µg iodine per day for adults. Good sources of iodine are spinach, mushrooms, radishes, broccoli, garden cress, chives and parsley. An easy way to improve your iodine intake is to use iodized salt regularly. If that is not enough, you can use dietary supplements.

If the thick neck results from a cold, which is often accompanied by swelling of the lymph nodes, the patient can fight the underlying disease in mild cases with home remedies. First of all, rest and warmth help with colds. If possible, the patient should not go to work for a few days. In natural medicine, preparations made from sage, especially tea or tablets to suckle, are recommended for inflammation in the throat and pharynx. Warm throat compresses and steam baths with chamomile tea or sea salt should also help.