I'm experiencing a lot of pain and irritation from my under arms and i have noticed that my lymph nodes are swollen, is this a serious issue?

BilateralAxillaryLA: Bilateral axillary lymphadenopathy most commonly caused by a near by infection (mono, cat scratch disease, and others). Drainage from the infection arm, thoracic wall, and breast can cause b/l axillary lad. This can feel tender, irritated and swollen. These are usually self limited and can be treated with antibiotics. Autoimmune and malignancy are other possibilities to consider if unresolved.

Monitoring Centers: Lymphatic system absorbs/carries things too big to go into the arteries/veins like bacteria eaten by white cells and digested food. Lymph nodes "taste" the lymph for anything bad like bacteria/viruses/cancers, etc. When it detects a problem, it alerts the immune system and your body reacts. They enlarge in response to the inflammation they create when they react. They shrink when all is well.