How to Measure Nodule Size

Lymph nodes, or nodules, are glands located throughout the body which filter bacteria, viruses and other pathogens out of your body, thereby protecting it from infection. When your body does become infected, the glands will swell as they work overtime to produce pathogen-fighting blood cells called lymphocytes. A common illness among children is the sore or swollen throat. In these cases, it is usually the lymph nodes found on both sides of the neck that swell. Being able to feel, locate and measure the lymph node size will give you an indication of how bad the infection really is and whether further medical attention is needed.

Instructions

• 1

  Stand directly in front of your child or the person whose neck lymph nodes you will be measuring. If you are the one in need of medical attention, ask a friend to do it for you. At the angle at which the lymph nodes are located in the neck, you can examine them yourself as well.

• 2

  Place the tips of your fingers, palm open, 1 inch below each ear. Lightly touch the surface of the skin. Do not press down. If the lymph nodes are swollen, it could be very painful to press and squeeze them. Lymph nodes are not usually identifiable when they are not swollen. If you cannot seem to locate them, they are most likely not infected. If you can clearly tell with a light touch that there is a bulge in this area, they are most likely infected.

• 3

  Judge the fingerspan of the nodule size. Is the nodule big enough to be covered by one finger, two fingers or three fingers? If the nodule needs two or three fingers to be covered, it is most likely infected.