Dear Doctor,

I was recently infected with HIV 8 months ago and since then I have had two small swollen lymph nodes in my neck since then that are 1/2 cm in size. Is this normal or should I worry and go see my doctor ??

Lymph node swelling - or lymphadenopathy - is a common observation in people who have recent infection with HIV. Think of nodes as the body's sites to help localize infection for concentrating the battle - in order to try and control it - since lymph cells are where this initial battle happens. So it is unlikely these nodes reflect some other issue - but it is hard to know for certain. You should be seeing your health care provider regularly if you are recently infected - to consider a treatment plan, and help you know what the plans are. And monitoring your body is one aspect of this. If nodes stay enlarged, especially on just one side, we sometimes will investigate further to see what is in them with a biopsy. This does not sound like it would be needed for you - but it is one key reason to have you meet regularly with a provider - to decide whether further investigations of things like this are needed.

Hope that helps.