Prevention is related to the cause. If a person gets cut or injured, careful cleaning and care of the wound may prevent a swollen gland. Safer sex practices can help prevent cases due to Treponema pallidum\ bacteria. Less often, syphilis is transmitted from a pregnant woman to her baby. This form of syphilis is known as \
Long-term effects depend on the underlying cause of the condition. A swollen gland caused by a cut may heal quickly with no long-term effects. A person who has cancer or certain other underlying conditions may need lifelong treatment.
Swollen glands are not contagious. However, if the underlying cause is an infection, such HIV, the infection may be contagious.