My symptoms started with lumps on my head. They were LYMPH NODES that swelled and became very, very itchy. I've been told that lymph nodes don't typically get itchy with infection so every doctor I've seen has poo-pooed that claim. Even the ones who felt them when they were HUGE.
Check a diagram of occipital lymph nodes to see if your 'lumps' are in the same location as the nodes. :)