Now that we know the function of lymph nodes is to keep you healthy, let’s look at reasons why your occipital lymph nodes can swell into small lumps at the base of your skull. After an infection, you can try my lymph cleansing herbal infusion to help flush toxins from your body or this three day lymphatic cleanse by Greg Ashby, an integrative health coach and functional nutritional consultant. Usually, keeping your immune system healthy is the best way to prevent infections and avoid having swelling in your lymph nodes. Some viral infections like mononucleosis or immune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis can cause your lymph nodes throughout your body to swell. If you have a respiratory infection, bacterial infection, or viral infection, you may also have a runny nose, fever, and sore throat. Sometimes, a serious infection could cause the nodes to swell even larger. These symptoms of swollen glands can help doctors identify the cause of the lumps at the back of your neck, in your armpits, or groin.ĭoctors from the Mayo Clinic say that the first sign of swollen lymph nodes is tenderness and pain in the small pea-sized lump. Usually, swollen occipital lymph nodes will be accompanied by other symptoms. Symptoms of Swollen Occipital Lymph Nodes Therefore, a lump on the back of your neck just below your skull could be a symptom that your occipital lymph nodes are swollen because of an infection affecting your head. In fact, they may swell so much that a lump develops. 3 Depending on the cause of infection or which area of your body is affected, lymph nodes can swell enough to be felt with your fingers. Wesley Norman from Georgetown Medical Center says that lymph nodes will swell if there is an infection in that area. This happens because your lymph nodes are working hard to get rid of the “bad” cells. If you have an infection, injury, or serious disease, fluid builds up in some of your lymph nodes causing them to swell. All lymph nodes also contain white blood cells that fight off infection.Īccording to the American Cancer Society, fluid from your head, scalp, and face flow through the lymph nodes at the back and side of your neck.

The small bean-like nodes of your lymphatic system filter out impurities and harmful substances from your body. Function of the Occipital Lymph NodesĪs with all lymph glands in your body, the function of your occipital lymph nodes is to keep your immune system healthy. Usually, you won’t be able to feel the occipital lymph nodes unless they are swollen for some reason. In fact, if you think of an imaginary line going just between the base of your ears along the back of your head, your occipital lymph nodes will be in the middle. You can find the approximate location of the occipital lymph nodes if you put your hand just at the nape of your neck.

Enlarged lymph nodes back of neck