Confusing
Translate the following text into English: Verwirrend
October 18, 2010 | 10,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Olaf Stephan
Dear medical team,
I don't know what to do anymore, for almost a week now I have been feeling like my throat is slightly swelling, the strange thing is that as soon as this happens (usually in the evenings), I also start to experience slight toothaches. All of this is happening in the area of the lymph nodes. They persist for a while and then usually disappear after some time. On bad days, the pain can even radiate up to my ear.
I have already made an appointment with the doctor, but I still have to wait 3 more days for it. Should I be worried? What could it be?
Dear inquirer,
Of course, it is not possible to make an accurate diagnosis in your case from a distance, so I can only respond relatively generally. Your decision to see a specialist is definitely the right one, as you describe it as an acute illness, so a waiting time of a few days seems quite long. It is very common for infections in the area of the teeth, ears, or nose and throat to lead to reactive and often painful swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, which are ultimately a symptom of the underlying disease and an expression of the body's immune response. Thus, swollen lymph nodes per se are not necessarily dangerous, the extent of the underlying infection is crucial. To identify this, an in-depth ENT examination, possibly including X-rays if there is suspicion of an infection e.g. of the sinuses, is recommended. A dental examination may also be necessary to discover and then treat the focus of infection. If the symptoms worsen in the next few days or if a fever occurs, it is advisable that you seek immediate medical attention (many doctors take emergencies on the same day, furthermore, the emergency departments of larger hospitals are staffed with specialists 24 hours a day and treat acute patients).
Best regards, O. Stephan.
