How can i tell when my submandibular lymph nodes are swollen? my nodes are below half an inch in size and i can only feel them when i dig for them at both sides because im slim. but how can i tell when there enlarged? would they become painful etc?

The reactive lymph nodes are only tender and enlarged in the acute phase of the infection & most of them go back to its original size and asymptomatic, i.e. not tender. However, some reactive lymph nodes do not regress, stay at a bigger size than usual after infection has resolved but they are not tender and do not enlarge again without an infection. Most people can feel submandibular lymph nodes.