Can I feel my occipital lymph node?

October 2, 2025 •

5 min read

The lymphatic system is a vital part of your immune system, with hundreds of lymph nodes throughout the body, including some at the base of your skull. While normally difficult to detect, you can feel your occipital lymph node when it becomes swollen, signaling that your body is actively fighting an infection or other health issue.

Quick Summary

It is possible to feel your occipital lymph nodes when they are swollen, as they become tender and noticeable lumps behind your head. Normally, they are tiny and unnoticeable, but swelling indicates an immune response to an infection or inflammation near the scalp and head area. Persistent, hard, or rapidly growing nodes warrant a medical evaluation.

Key Points

Normal Palpation: You can feel occipital lymph nodes when they swell, but they are typically unnoticeable when healthy.
Signs of Swelling: Swollen occipital nodes often indicate an immune response to an infection on the scalp or in the head region.
Self-Check Method: Use the pads of your fingers to gently check for pea or bean-sized lumps at the base of your skull, right where it meets your neck.
When to See a Doctor: Consult a healthcare provider if the nodes are hard, fixed in place, persistently swollen for more than 2-4 weeks, or accompanied by night sweats or unexplained weight loss.
Common Causes: Scalp infections, head lice, viral illnesses, and some autoimmune conditions are common causes of occipital lymph node swelling.
Difference in Feeling: Reactive (infection-fighting) nodes are often soft, tender, and movable, while potentially serious nodes are more likely to be hard, fixed, and painless.

What Exactly Are Occipital Lymph Nodes?

Occipital lymph nodes are small, oval or bean-shaped glands located at the base of your skull, right above the hairline. They are a critical part of the lymphatic system, a vast network of vessels and organs that work to filter lymph fluid and fight off infections. Their primary function is to drain and filter lymph from the back of the scalp. When an infection or inflammation occurs in this area, these nodes can enlarge as they work to filter out and destroy pathogens, making them much easier to feel.

The Lymphatic System's Role in Immunity

The lymphatic system performs several key functions for your body's defense:

Fluid balance: It collects excess fluid, proteins, and waste materials from tissues throughout the body and returns them to the bloodstream.
Immune response: It produces and stores lymphocytes and other immune cells that attack and destroy bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other harmful invaders.
Fat absorption: It transports fats and fat-soluble vitamins from the digestive system to the blood.

How to Palpate Your Occipital Lymph Nodes

Feeling for your occipital lymph nodes requires a gentle, systematic approach. Here's a guide to performing a self-check:

Preparation: Sit in a relaxed position with your head tilted slightly forward to relax the muscles in your neck. Use the pads of your index, middle, and ring fingers for the examination.
Locate the area: Place your fingertips at the very back of your head, right at the base of the skull where it meets the neck. Follow the hairline downward.
Gentle palpation: Apply light, but firm, pressure and use circular motions to feel for any small, pea-sized, or bean-shaped lumps. Check both sides of the head for comparison. In a healthy state, you likely won't feel anything prominent, but if they are swollen, they will be noticeable.

What Normal and Swollen Nodes Feel Like

Normal nodes: Usually not palpable or, if felt, they are very small (less than 1 centimeter), soft, and mobile. They should not be tender or painful.
Swollen (Reactive) nodes: Will feel larger, often like a pea or grape. They may be tender or painful to the touch. The texture is often softer or rubbery. This is typically a sign of your body fighting an infection.

Common Causes of Swollen Occipital Lymph Nodes

Lymph node swelling, or lymphadenopathy, is a common and usually harmless immune response. Several conditions can cause your occipital nodes to swell:

Scalp Infections: This is one of the most frequent causes. Conditions like seborrheic dermatitis, folliculitis, or even severe dandruff can trigger a reaction in the local lymph nodes.
Viral Infections: Common colds, mononucleosis (mono), or measles can cause widespread lymph node swelling, including in the occipital region.
Bacterial Infections: An infection like strep throat can cause nearby lymph nodes to swell. Though less common, a skin infection on the scalp can also be the cause.
Head Lice: An infestation of head lice can cause itching and skin irritation, leading to a local immune response and swollen occipital lymph nodes.
Autoimmune Diseases: Conditions like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, which cause the body's immune system to attack its own tissues, can result in chronic lymph node swelling.
Allergies: While not a primary cause, severe allergic reactions, especially those with inflammation, can trigger a response in the lymphatic system.

When to Seek Medical Attention

While swollen lymph nodes are often a temporary issue, certain characteristics warrant a visit to a healthcare provider. It's important to distinguish between a routine immune response and a more serious condition. Here is a table comparing common and concerning lymph node symptoms.


Symptom	Common Swollen Lymph Node (Reactive)	Potentially Serious (Needs Evaluation)
Onset	Appears suddenly, often with illness	Gradual, persistent swelling without obvious cause
Feel	Soft, rubbery, and easily moveable	Hard, firm, and fixed or matted in place
Tenderness	Often tender and painful to the touch	Typically painless
Duration	Resolves within 2–4 weeks as illness subsides	Persists for more than a few weeks or continues to grow
Accompanying Symptoms	Fever, sore throat, cold/flu symptoms	Unexplained weight loss, night sweats, persistent fever
Size	Small, pea to bean-sized	Grows rapidly or is significantly larger than 1cm

Other Signs to Look For

In addition to the table above, consider these other signs when deciding if you should consult a doctor:

Lymph node location: Swelling in areas other than the occipital region, such as above the collarbone (supraclavicular nodes), can sometimes indicate a more serious issue.
Systemic symptoms: If the swelling is accompanied by persistent and unexplained symptoms affecting your whole body, such as significant fatigue or unusual bruising, seek medical advice.

The Doctor's Role in Diagnosis and Treatment

When you see a healthcare provider for swollen occipital lymph nodes, they will perform a physical examination and may ask about your medical history. A diagnosis might involve a combination of the following steps:

Physical Examination: Your doctor will palpate the lymph nodes, assessing their size, texture, mobility, and tenderness.
Medical History: Information about recent illnesses, infections, or other symptoms helps pinpoint the cause.
Blood Tests: A complete blood count (CBC) or other specific tests can help identify an underlying infection or systemic issue.
Imaging Studies: In some cases, a CT scan or other imaging may be used to look for sources of infection or evaluate the lymph nodes in more detail.
Lymph Node Biopsy: For persistent or suspicious swelling, a biopsy may be performed to analyze the tissue for cancer or other serious conditions.

Conclusion: Monitoring Your Health

Yes, it is possible to feel your occipital lymph node, but this is almost always a sign that your body is doing its job by fighting off a nearby infection or inflammation. While most cases resolve on their own, it is crucial to pay attention to the characteristics of the swelling and any accompanying symptoms. Persistent, hard, or rapidly enlarging nodes should always be evaluated by a medical professional. Taking an active role in monitoring your health and knowing when to seek expert guidance is the best approach to managing any concerns about your lymph nodes. For more information on the lymphatic system, you can consult reliable sources like the Mayo Clinic.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common cause is a reaction to an infection or inflammation near the nodes, such as a scalp infection, head lice, or a viral illness like a common cold.

A swollen lymph node typically feels soft, rubbery, and can move slightly under your fingers. It will often be tender and located specifically at the base of your skull. Other lumps, like cysts or fatty tissue deposits, may feel different. If you are unsure, a doctor can provide a proper diagnosis.

It is rare to feel a healthy occipital lymph node, as they are typically very small and buried within the surrounding tissue. If you can feel one, it has likely enlarged in response to an immune event, even if you don't feel other symptoms.

Most reactive lymph nodes will return to their normal size within two to four weeks as the underlying infection or inflammation resolves. If the swelling persists longer, medical evaluation is recommended.

Yes, it is often more common to feel lymph nodes in children, as they have more active immune systems and less fatty tissue. However, any node larger than 1 centimeter should be checked by a pediatrician.

Warning signs include lymph nodes that feel hard, are fixed and not movable, grow rapidly, or are accompanied by symptoms like unexplained weight loss, persistent fever, or night sweats. Swelling above the collarbone is also a concern.

Yes, it is possible. Muscle knots (trigger points) in the upper neck and shoulder area can feel similar to swollen lymph nodes. However, lymph nodes have a specific, localized position, whereas muscle knots can occur more broadly in the muscle fibers. Gentle massage can often help relax muscle knots, but has no effect on lymph node swelling.