3.               HIV

Though we don’t hear about HIV as much as we did in the '80s and '90s, it still exists. And swollen lymph nodes is one of its symptoms. Because HIV can lay dormant for years, it’s an important infection to rule out when it comes to sickness in general.So just what are the symptoms of HIV? 

According to the New York State HIV/AIDS Information Service, “Upon primary HIV infection, many people report a flu-like or mononucleosis-like illness, with a variety of symptoms, the most common being rashes of the skin, fever, swollen lymph nodes, pharyngitis, oral or genital ulcers, pain in the joints or muscles, diarrhea, headache, nausea, vomiting, and malaise usually within 2 to 6 weeks after exposure to the virus. At this time, the lymph nodes (organs of the immune system) can become swollen and tender (swollen glands), and easily felt in either the neck, under the armpits or groin area.”

However, these symptoms often go away in two to three weeks. That’s why HIV can be misdiagnosed in many cases. It’s also important to know that viral load can be high upon initial infection with HIV. That said, the infection may not come out of dormancy for 10 or more years. This is when swollen lymph nodes become an important sign of HIV infection. 

“As the infection process progresses and the immune system deteriorates, many complications begin to arise. One of the first such symptoms in HIV-infected individuals is the enlargement of the lymph nodes, or more commonly referred to as swollen glands, which can persist for more than three months,” according to the New York State HIV/AIDS Information Service.

The good news is that there are now many treatments for HIV, and it's easy and fast to find out your status. Many facilities can do rapid tests where you’ll get results within minutes.