Swollen Submandibular Glad, Ear Pain

[Worried7134]

For a couple months now I've had a swollen submandibular gland on the right side only. It seems to fluctuate somewhat in size from day to day, but is always swollen and always bigger than the one on the left (where I can't feel it at all.)  I feel like it makes my throat feel tight sometimes.  I first noticed it about 3 months ago, I don't know if it was swollen before that. For almost 3 months I have also been having some pain/pressure in my right ear and in my jaw on the right side. It's not constant, it comes and goes, somedays it's not painful at all. I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this and what the cause of it was? I've tried antibiotics but they didn't do anything.

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Understand your predicament. The middle ear infection is unlikely to be due to the usage of Q tips. HIV/AIDS can cause lymphadenopathy. It would be worthwhile to see if other lymph groups are enlarged namely, axilla and groin, these can be palpated, the others like those in the chest or abdomen may need a CT to detect their enlargement.

To rule out HIV, correlate with blood counts, this could lead to further analysis. The normal white blood count is between 4500 and 10000 cells per micro-liter. This is lowered in HIV. Also, the CD4 count is low. To confirm the presence of HIV infection, the most specific test would be testing for its antibodies with an ELISA test which is a screening test which looks for antibodies in the blood. The antibodies are usually produced within 1-3 months of the infection. If this test is positive as a lot of false positivity exists with this test another more specific test to detect the antibodies is the Western blot test. To conclude if you are not manifesting any symptoms of HIV like repeated infections and if your blood counts are normal, it's unlikely that you may be harboring the infection. But this needs to be confirmed with specific testing. So, when in doubt please have yourself tested.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.

[Worried7134]

Thank you for your response.  I have had the gland looked at by 2 doctors who said there was not reason to be concerned about a tumor.  The doctor said my eardrum looked cloudy.  I have finished 2 courses of antibiotics, but I still have on-and-off pan in my right ear and on-and-off swelling in my right submandibular gland.  Could this be an ongoing viral infection?  Could this just be the result of damaging my ear via too much Q-tip usage, pushing fluid in there?

As you can see, both of us posting in this forum are concerned are symptoms maybe be due to HIV.  Can you speak to that at all?  Do you know if any of these symptoms are common with accute HIV?

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Understand your predicament. As you are having symptoms in your right ear and the right sided gland is enlarged, it could most likely be due to an infective pathology. But since with antibiotics the lymph node size is increasing, you may need to re consult your doctor. Either the antibiotic is not working, then the source of infection may need to be identified and a new antibiotic may be started or other causes for enlarged nodes namely tumors or inflammations need to be considered.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.

[Worried7134]

Mine doesn't hurt, and it's not in my throat. My ear just hurts off-and-on (mostly off now). I'm just concerned about the swelling of the gland.

[ForgiveMe321]

Yea my gf saw a urgent care doctor yesterday and was diagnosed with Viral Pharyngitis . Tested neg for strep . I'm worried its HIV related too even though I have the negative DNA PCR test at 7 weeks . The right side of my throat is still swollen too it just doesn't hurt like hers . She says her hurts a lot and even her ear . Only thing that even helps a little bit is prescribed Ibuprofen .

[Worried7134]

Has anyone else experienced this?

[Worried7134]

Oops, I replied to myself by accident.

I am terrified that it's HIV related, but I didn't know if I could post that in this forum. It's comforting to know someone else is experiencing the same thing and tested negative.

I can't find much information online. Please let me know if you find anything out.

[Worried7134]

I am terrified that it's HIV related, but I didn't know if I could post that in this forum. It's comforting to know someone else is experiencing the same thing and tested negative.

I can't find much information online. Please let me know if you find anything out.

[ForgiveMe321]

I am going through the same worry. Went to the doctor they gave me a 10 day Amoxycillin antibiotics that did nothing . Right tonsil is still swollen . Doesn't really hurt much . I saw your concern on another post elsewhere about HIV and thats what my fear was . I took a DNA PCR test about 7 weeks post encounter though and tested negative . My gf has developed this same tonsil problem only on her right side and she had her tonsils removed as a child . Then she complained about the slight ear /jaw pain . I know where you're coming from .