One of my occipital glands is swollen, it is painful. no other symptoms of an infection, other than small red pimple-like bumps which i scratched at the base of my hairline. do i need antibiotics? dont want to venture out unnecessarily.

Maybe/not: These glands usually enlarge when there is a skin disturbance nearby. The cycle bigger when they process the serum from that area & tend to shrink back down gradually over 3 weeks. Other than keeping the area clean there is little more to do unless you thing the glands grow much bigger & become continuously painful,. That would suggest need to drain it or take meds.