# Is the fluid from a swollen Lymph node dangerous? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 3, 2006, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-fluid-from-a-swollen-lymph-node-dangerous/378981 "2006-11-03T16:07:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Frosted\_Glass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frosted_glass/32/3926_2.png) [@Frosted\_Glass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frosted_Glass)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2006, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-fluid-from-a-swollen-lymph-node-dangerous/378981/1 "2006-11-03T16:07:04Z")
The title says it all. I started thinking about this when I had strep throat but I still have not received a satisfactory answer. Some of the people I have asked said absolutely not, while others maintain that it is very dangerous. I am leaning towards not that dangerous but my knowledge of biology is limited to the AP Exam. So, what would happen if you cut open a swollen Lymph node and let the fluid pour out? How much live/active bacteria and viruses are contained in the Lymph nodes during infection? As always, thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2006, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-fluid-from-a-swollen-lymph-node-dangerous/378981/2 "2006-11-03T16:19:01Z")
It depends on what’s causing the swelling. Liquid drained from the swollen lymph nodes, buboes, of plague victims _is_ infectious. ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2006, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-fluid-from-a-swollen-lymph-node-dangerous/378981/3 "2006-11-04T00:03:42Z")
Don’t think it was a lymph node but Sanju Bhagat’s abdomen held 45 pounds of sebaceous material produced over the 40 years he carried the Fetus in fetu of his twin brother in there. The 45-lb quantity was mentioned in a Weird Events documentary I saw on the subject. It showed him before and after the operation. Read more at: > **[Man With Twin Living Inside Him -- A Medical Mystery Classic](https://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=2346476&page=2)** > > Another person lived inside a man for nearly four decades. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2006, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-fluid-from-a-swollen-lymph-node-dangerous/378981/4 "2006-11-04T01:42:22Z")
[QUOTE=Frosted Glass] So, what would happen if you cut open a swollen Lymph node and let the fluid pour out? [/QUOTE] Just a point of clarification - although there is some fluid in a swollen lymph node, the main reason for its enlargement is due to an increase in the number and size of the lymph (and other) cells within it. The increase in lymph node volume due to such cellular expansion dwarfs that from fluid accumulation. And, what **Squink** said. ---
**Author:** ![LorieSmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a587f6/32.png) [@LorieSmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LorieSmurf)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2006, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-fluid-from-a-swollen-lymph-node-dangerous/378981/5 "2006-11-04T12:30:07Z")
[QUOTE=Ignatz] Don’t think it was a lymph node but Sanju Bhagat’s abdomen held 45 pounds of sebaceous material produced over the 40 years he carried the Fetus in fetu of his twin brother in there. The 45-lb quantity was mentioned in a Weird Events documentary I saw on the subject. It showed him before and after the operation. Read more at: > **[Man With Twin Living Inside Him -- A Medical Mystery Classic](https://abcnews.com/Primetime/story?id=2346476&page=2)** > > Another person lived inside a man for nearly four decades. [/QUOTE] :eek: Ew. Ew ew ew ew ew…EWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!