What is a sign that lymph nodes may be affected?

Enlarged lymph nodes due to infection are a significant sign that they may be affected. When lymph nodes become swollen or enlarged, it often indicates that they are actively filtering pathogens or responding to inflammation. This enlargement usually occurs as the immune system reacts to an infection, such as a viral or bacterial illness, which causes lymphatic tissue to mobilize and increase in size due to the multiplication of immune cells.

In contrast, other signs such as visible and palpable lymph nodes or asymmetrical size alone do not necessarily indicate that the lymph nodes are affected by an infection, as normal lymph nodes can also be palpable without being diseased. Additionally, normal size and non-tender lymph nodes are indicators of health, suggesting there is no active infection or other pathological process occurring. Therefore, the enlargement associated with infection serves as a clear signal of potential lymphatic involvement and warrants further investigation.