Symptom 19. Swollen Lymph Nodes: The Rare Immune System Response to Diverticulitis
Swollen lymph nodes, although not a common symptom of diverticulitis, can occasionally occur. Your lymph nodes, small, bean-shaped structures located throughout the body, play a crucial role in the immune system, producing and storing cells that help fight infection and disease.
When a case of diverticulitis becomes serious, the infection can spread beyond the diverticula. In response, nearby lymph nodes may swell as they produce more white blood cells to combat the infection and filter harmful substances from the lymph fluid.
Typically, these swollen nodes can be felt as small, soft lumps under the skin. Most often, they’re found in the neck, underarms, and groin, but diverticulitis might cause swelling in the nodes in the abdomen or near the intestinal tract.
This symptom serves as a crucial alarm signal, alerting the body to a significant, ongoing infection that it needs to combat. It’s one of the ways the body communicates that it’s time to ramp up its defense mechanisms.
While swollen lymph nodes are generally a sign that your immune system is doing its job, it can cause discomfort or tenderness in the affected area. However, as the body deals with the infection, the swelling typically subsides, and the lymph nodes return to their normal size. (19)
