Small Lump right side of neck

I have this same issue; it popped up (hah) a few days ago and I do not know what it means. Have you had any luck in finding an explanation?

I am 29 years old, male, and in excellent health.

I am an 18 yr old female, obviously in excellent health. I've noticed the same thing, I've heard it might be an infected hair follicle but it hasnt risen through the skin like a pimple like folliculitis does.

I'm worried too and would appreciate any feedback.

I have the same problem. I'm a 35 yr old female and about a month ago I noticed the painless lump on my left side. Exactly as explained by laserspewpew on March 12th, 2009, but mine was accompanied by an irritated throat, not sore throat, just really red and irritated, no pain at all. My PCP diagnosed me with the flu. Gave me antibiotics. I finished my amoxicillin and the lump was still there and my throat remained the same. Well, in so many words I was freaking out. In my mind, it was more than just a flu. I called the PCP back and he prescribed me Erythromicin. I took it for about 5 days and besides getting a rash all over my neck and face, the lump and the throat were still the same. I wasn't very happy with the diagnosis from my PCP, decided to see an ENT, who turns around and tells me that it's my bone (joint of the neck and jaw) and that the lump is suppposed to be there. According to him, everybody has it. Even though my right side is normal. I feel it there but not as big as my left side. So he proceeds in telling me that he's not concerned about that, but that there is a pea size lump right below the one in question, which could be a lymph node and that even though it doesn't seem cancerous, he would like me to suspend Erythromicin, and he prescribed Cefdinir and Methylpredsolone. Well, Needless to say the steroids put me in a loop. I had an adverse reaction to the steroids, and since it didn't show on the "side effects" part of the paper from the pharmacy, I then definitely thought the worst. The area below my chin all the way to my breasts was on fire. It was a burning pain and it was constant. My skin felt like it was sunburned, and the inside felt raw, like I had acid in my veins. I couldn't even lay down on a pillow. The burning pain would then travel to my armpits, breast, my rib cage and my pelvis, in no psecific order. I am glad to say that ALL the burning ended once I was done with the steroids. I had a follow up appointment with the ENT who told me the pea size lump had decreased 75% in size and that I was fine. I'm still finishing the Cefdinir (antibiotic) to then decide what I'm going to do next. The partially fixed and partially squishy grape size lump is still there. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I want something to be wrong with me, I am just not convinced enough that it is nothing, to just let it go. Any comments or opinions are appreciated.

To all posters: it DOES sound like a swollen lymph node, however each of you should get checked out by a doctor/ask for a second opinion because the lymph nodes are not going down. Sometimes a lymph node will remain a bit swollen your entire life, and if there is no pain upon touching it and it is not increasing in size and your doctor(s) do not seem worried, consider it normal. Asthmatics and those with allergies/chronic sinus issues tend to always have a swollen lymph node or two. It's just a normal bodily reaction. But it's best to be safe and get checked out if you are overly concerned! Best of luck to all of you.