As someone with a food allergy, you’re probably highly aware of the different symptoms you experience when you eat a food you’re allergic to. Sometimes, it can be difficult to figure out if a symptom is related to your food allergy or something else. Swollen lumps near your neck, for instance, may be a food allergy symptom, but they could also be a symptom of something unrelated.

Lymph nodes are small organs that function as part of your immune system. You may be able to feel them around your neck when they’re swollen. Food allergies occur when your immune system overreacts to something you’ve eaten, so it makes sense that organs and tissues in your immune system can be affected when you eat a food allergen.

Allergies can cause swollen lymph nodes, but they usually don’t. Most of the time, lymph nodes swell because your immune system is fighting an infection. It can be difficult to know if swollen lymph nodes are related to an infection or your food allergy. As one MyFoodAllergyTeam member shared, “I’ve been utterly miserable all week. Swollen glands in my neck … and overall feeling miserable. I’m not sure if it’s a summer cold or allergies.”

Learn more about the possible relationship between swollen lymph nodes and food allergies, common causes of swollen lymph nodes, and other allergy symptoms that may feel like swollen lymph nodes.

What Are Lymph Nodes?

Hundreds of small organs called lymph nodes exist throughout your entire body. Each one is about the size of a pea when it isn’t swollen. Lymph nodes filter fluid that contains a blend of nutrients and cells.

The cells inside your lymph nodes separate waste from the nutrients your body needs, and they can help fight infections. When you’re sick, the lymph nodes in your neck, groin, and armpits can become swollen and painful to the touch.

How Food Allergies Cause Swollen Lymph Nodes

It’s possible that an allergic reaction to food can contribute to swollen lymph nodes. When you eat a food you’re allergic to, your immune system releases chemicals that cause an allergic reaction. Widespread inflammation in your body occurs as a result, and this can sometimes affect the lymph nodes, causing them to swell.

That said, even though an allergic reaction to food may cause swollen lymph nodes, it is not a common occurrence.

Causes of Swollen Lymph Nodes

Upper respiratory infections and other viral and bacterial illnesses are the most common causes of swollen lymph nodes in the neck. Your lymph nodes swell because blood cells move into them to fight the infection. Although swollen lymph nodes might be uncomfortable, the swelling means that your immune system is doing its job. Common infections that can cause swollen lymph nodes include:

• The common cold
• The flu
• Strep throat
• Sinus infection
• Mononucleosis (commonly referred to as mono)

Food allergies are not a common cause of swollen lymph nodes, but they can weaken your immune system, which makes you more susceptible to infections. As one MyFoodAllergyTeam member remarked, “My daughter is constantly congested or has sinus infections due to food allergies.”

Allergy Symptoms That Are Similar to Swollen Lymph Nodes

You might mistake some food allergy symptoms that affect your mouth, neck, and throat for swollen lymph nodes or vice versa. Here are two food allergy reactions that are easy to mix up with swollen lymph nodes.

Oral Allergy Syndrome

Some food allergies, specifically to fruits and vegetables, cause oral allergy syndrome (OAS). OAS is associated with raw fruits, raw vegetables, and some seeds such as fennel or sunflower. OAS symptoms are typically minor and can include:

• Itchy mouth and tongue
• Swollen mouth and tongue
• Itchy throat
• Tingling in the throat
• Swollen uvula (the dangling tissue in the back of your throat)

Usually, this type of reaction goes away when you stop eating the allergen, but swollen lymph nodes from an infection can last as long as you have the infection.

Anaphylaxis

Sudden swelling in your throat may not involve your lymph nodes. Instead, it may be a sign of anaphylaxis, a serious reaction that occurs from food allergies. In extreme cases, throat swelling from anaphylaxis can block your airway. Anaphylaxis is more severe than swollen lymph nodes and may include other symptoms that can occur rapidly, including:

• Trouble breathing
• Wheezing
• Rapid heartbeat or heart palpitations
• Swollen lips and tongue
• Nausea and vomiting
• Confusion
• Dizziness or fainting
• Hives and itching

Seek immediate medical attention if you or your child experiences signs of anaphylaxis in response to a food allergy. If a doctor has prescribed an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen or Auvi-Q), use it immediately according to its instructions.

When To See a Doctor for Swollen Lymph Nodes

If you think you have swollen lymph nodes because of contact with a food allergen, talk to your allergist. If your swollen lymph nodes are related to a food allergy, you can often manage it with allergy medications or by applying a warm compress. Your allergist may have additional ideas for treatment.

If your swollen lymph nodes aren’t related to your food allergy, your health care provider can explore other possible causes. If you have an infection, swollen lymph nodes usually go away when the infection clears up. If your lymph nodes feel swollen without other symptoms of an infection like a fever, contact your health care provider. Chronic swollen lymph nodes, called chronic lymphadenopathy, might be a sign of other immune conditions with symptoms that appear similar to those caused by allergies.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyFoodAllergyTeam is the social network for people with food allergies and their loved ones. On MyFoodAllergyTeam, more than 41,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with food allergies.

Do you have swollen lymph nodes with a food allergy? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.