Inflammation of the lymph nodes is an extremely unpleasant phenomenon. Acute painful sensations associated with this condition can disrupt the usual course of affairs for quite a long time. The pain with normal movements can seem endless. It is physically exhausting and therefore the course of the disease worsens and seems unbearable. To figure out what to do in this case, it is first of all important to understand the causes of inflammation of the lymph nodes and learn to distinguish the symptoms of this condition - otherwise it will simply be impossible to choose the right treatment.
Symptoms and treatment of lymphadenitis
Lymphadenitis is inflammation of the lymph nodes caused by infection.
Lymph nodes are paired organs of the lymphatic system that perform a filtering function for lymph coming from different organs. They are located near lymphatic and blood vessels. There are cervical, intrathoracic, axillary, supraclavicular, inguinal, popliteal and other lymph nodes. This article will discuss the symptoms and treatment of lymphadenitis.
General signs of the disease:
- swollen lymph nodes;
- pain in the area where the nodes are located;
- heat;
- general malaise;
- headache and weakness.
In childhood, inflammation of the lymph nodes is much more common. Read on to learn more about the treatment of submandibular lymphadenitis in children.
About lymph
The lymphatic system consists of lymph nodes and the vessels that feed them. It is multifunctional, but its main function is to protect the body from various pathogens.
For this purpose, immune cells exist in the lymph nodes - T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes.
The passage of blood through small capillaries creates a plasma filtration effect. Some of the blood enters the surrounding tissues, and some goes back into the bloodstream. Another one - into the vessels. The result is the formation of lymph. It is a clear, watery liquid containing immune cells.
Lymphatic vessels, uniting, enter the thoracic lymphatic ducts, right and left, the same, in turn, flow into the veins. This results in the return of fluid to the bloodstream.
Lymph nodes, as part of the body's immune system, are located in different parts of the body. Their task is to be filters, a kind of barriers for infectious carriers and pathogenic cells.
Causes of inflammation of the lymph nodes
In most cases, inflammation of the lymph nodes occurs as a consequence of one or another disease of the body. There are two types of disease: nonspecific and specific lymphadenitis.
The cause of nonspecific is pathological processes that develop against the background of viruses and infections entering the body. Periodontitis, abscesses, advanced carious processes, tonsillitis, colds, toxoplasmosis, foci of suppuration and even allergic reactions are a “favorable” background for the occurrence of nonspecific lymphadenitis. Inflammation of the lymph nodes under the armpit in most cases also belongs to this type.
The causes of specific lymphadenitis are severe infections: AIDS, mononucleosis, tuberculosis, leukemia, etc.
Oncology and enlarged cervical lymph nodes
Some cancers (lymphomas) arise and develop in the lymph nodes. They are classified as:
- Hodgkin's lymphoma;
- Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.
But more often metastases penetrate the lymph nodes.
This occurs due to the ability of cancerous tumors to metastasize. Benign tumors do not have this ability.
Breaking away from the lesion, the mutated cells migrate, enter the blood and lymphatic vessels and create secondary lesions. The lymph nodes adjacent to the primary lesion become the most vulnerable.
Clinical manifestations of the disease
Purulent lymphadenitis. The disease is accompanied by severe, sometimes throbbing pain and immobility of the lymph nodes. When purulent melting occurs, the skin around the lymph node becomes noticeably red. The tumor formed in this area has clear contours, but different densities. When pressing on it, a characteristic crunch is heard. The patient's condition with purulent lymphadenitis is of moderate severity (headache, weakness, rapid heartbeat, low-grade fever). If treated incorrectly, inflammation can spread throughout the body. Particular attention should be paid to inflammation of the lymph nodes in the groin in women and men.
Non-purulent lymphadenitis is characterized by enlarged lymph nodes. At the same time, they are mobile and slightly compacted. The patient's condition is satisfactory.
Classification of the disease:
- according to the course of the disease (acute and chronic lymphadenitis);
- according to the type of fluid that appears at the site of inflammation (serous, purulent, fibrous and hemorrhagic).
Acute lymphadenitis lasts about two weeks, chronic – more than a month. Inflammation of the cervical lymph nodes in adults can be both acute and chronic.
What to do if your lymph nodes hurt?
Treatment of lymph nodes depends entirely on the causes of inflammation. In order not to “overlook” the disease, it is enough to be attentive during a visual examination. With inflammation, the lymph nodes enlarge - the familiar, for example, submandibular relief becomes smoother. There are about a hundred diseases associated with this condition, so self-diagnosis is a bad idea. A much better decision would be to contact a therapist: he will be able to conduct a comprehensive examination, after which he will refer you to a specialist, depending on the nature of the inflammation.
Characteristic symptoms of the course of inflammation are also a change in the consistency of the lymph node (it can become soft from suppuration, or hard due to the development of cancer cells of the lymph tissue), the occurrence of painful sensations during palpation or swallowing, redness of the skin at the site of the lesion, as well as apathy and fatigue characteristic of many diseases , headaches and fever, which is inevitable during inflammation.
If the lymph nodes in the neck hurt from a sore throat or any other disease in which such sensations are only a symptom, then the pain will go away along with the end of the underlying disease. Mild symptoms (mild pain or tingling when swallowing or pressing, general weakness and frequent colds) indicate a general deterioration of the immune system.
In the second case, the most common treatment method is ultra-high frequency therapy - a painless and discomfort-free procedure performed using special equipment. Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs can be prescribed by a doctor in case of urgent need, but in general it is enough to adhere to bed rest, take vitamins and drink plenty of warm fluids. Echinacea tincture will help ease the course of the disease - a truly magical plant, a natural antiseptic that eliminates inflammation and strengthens the immune system. Decoctions of mint, chamomile or calendula will help you feel better, and rinsing with salt and soda will help fight inflammation.
Remember that inflamed lymph nodes should under no circumstances be heated, rubbed, or an iodine mesh applied to this area. Such procedures aggravate the course of the disease and accelerate the spread of infection.
Diagnostics
Visual examination of the patient and history taking are important. After this, the doctor prescribes a detailed blood test and x-ray or computed tomography. This is done to exclude tumor diseases. In severe cases, a lymph node biopsy is prescribed.
To identify the causes of inflammation of the inguinal lymph nodes, the doctor will recommend a general urine test, as well as testing for syphilis, hepatitis and HIV infection.
On our website you will find information regarding the diagnosis and treatment of lymphadenitis. In addition, you have the opportunity to schedule a consultation with a specialist and learn how to treat inflammation of the lymph nodes behind the ear.
Diagnosis of the disease
During the initial examination, the doctor tries to identify the location of inflammation of the lymph node and determine in detail the area of pathology. To establish an accurate diagnosis and prescribe effective treatment, it is necessary to conduct a number of examinations and laboratory tests:
- polymerase chain reaction analysis;
- general blood analysis;
- biopsy to differentiate malignant and benign neoplasms;
- Ultrasound of the lymph node.
Culturological research of biological samples that are sown in nutrient media is practiced. Based on the content of formed colonies, the type of infectious agent, the intensity of the inflammatory process, and the resistance of microbes and viruses to pharmacological drugs are determined. Doctors of narrow specializations - otolaryngologists, dentists, endocrinologists, oncologists, infectious disease specialists, hematologists - can be involved in the diagnosis.
Enlarged lymph nodes in a child’s neck
Lymph nodes in a baby's neck can become enlarged for various reasons. Most often this occurs due to infection in the body. Sore throat, flu, colds are diseases that provoke swollen lymph nodes. However, not only they, but also more formidable diseases can manifest themselves in this way. Based on this, parents should show their baby to a pediatrician as soon as possible, who will prescribe tests and treatment.
Enlarged lymph nodes in a child’s neck are a good reason to visit a pediatrician.
What are lymph nodes in the neck
Lymph nodes are bean-shaped and ribbon-shaped formations of lymphatic tissue. In the neck, the nodes are located in clusters of up to 10 pieces, near blood vessels, mainly large veins. Their surface is represented by connective tissue, which forms a capsule. Trabeculae extend from it into the node, also connective tissue - the so-called supporting structures, similar to beams.
The internal structural basis of the node is a stroma of reticular connective tissue with process cells. These cells, together with the reticular fibers they form, form a three-dimensional network. The structure of the stroma also includes phagocytic cells of several varieties. The inner part of the ganglion is called the medulla. Closer to the plane of the capsule is the cortex with a superficial part and a zone of deep cortex.
The accumulation of lymphoid tissue inside the space of the node forms follicles - lymph nodes located closer to the capsule. The deep cortex contains a large number of lymphocytes with a dense and uniform arrangement. The lymph node, in fact, is a barrier to retain infection, pathologically altered cells, and tumors. It contains the formation of lymphocytes - protective cells that destroy foreign elements. Cervical lymph nodes are divided into:
- anterior cervical
- posterior cervical;
- occipital;
- chin;
- submandibular nodes.
In a normal state, a healthy person often cannot feel them, since they are small in size, soft and elastic, and quite mobile under the skin.
Prevention of inflammatory processes
Lymphadenitis, as noted above, is a secondary disease. Therefore, in order to avoid colds and viral diseases, we recommend strengthening your immune system, eating well, exercising and giving up bad habits. We advise parents of children to promptly treat abrasions on the arms and legs with antiseptics, and if necessary, consult a pediatrician. By the way, the latter will tell you which doctor treats inflammation of the parotid lymph nodes, which is quite common in childhood.
If you still have questions after reading the article, please contact our medical center. You can make an appointment at any time convenient for you. Our specialists will advise and, if necessary, recommend one or another examination. You will also receive an answer to the question “what to do if the lymph nodes in the jaw are inflamed.” Contact us – the center is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Related services: Consultation with a pediatrician Consultation with a family doctor
Metastasis to cervical lymph nodes
Cervical lymph nodes are at greater risk of metastasis. It is there that metastases of squamous cell carcinoma of the upper respiratory tract, cancer of the thyroid gland, skin and salivary glands penetrate.
Sometimes the primary lesion is localized in another part of the body:
- Breast cancer – up to 4.5% of cases;
- Lung cancer – up to 32% of cases;
- Oncology of the esophagus – up to 30% of cases;
- Kidney cancer – up to 8% of cases;
- Testicular cancer – up to 4.5%.
Minor rates of metastasis were diagnosed in oncology of the cervix, uterine body, prostate, central nervous system, liver, bladder, and ovaries.
How to detect metastases in lymph nodes
The problem is not simple, since if there are a small number of mutated cells in the lymph nodes, there are usually no symptoms. If there is any suspicion, the doctor must make an accurate diagnosis.
This is where lymph node biopsy comes to the rescue. It is carried out in different ways:
- Biopsy with needle insertion into a questionable node. Carry out under local anesthesia. The procedure takes up to 30 minutes.
- Open biopsy. This is a surgical procedure performed under anesthesia, local or general, with the removal of part or all of the lymph node.
- Sentinel lymph node biopsy. A radiopharmaceutical or fluorescent dye is injected into the tumor. Penetrating the lymph vessels, it reveals the problem node, the so-called sentinel node.
After the biopsy procedure, all materials are sent to the laboratory for study.
Consequences
In general, patients easily tolerate the procedure; there are no consequences or complications. But you still have to deal with symptoms that arise as consequences of the procedure. It can be:
- Feeling weak;
- Temperature increase;
- Painful sensations in the head and neck area;
- Dizziness;
- Nerve pinching or damage
Unpleasant consequences can be caused by insufficient qualifications of the doctor - damage to the vessel, penetration of bacteria.
If you experience the above symptoms, you should consult a doctor. At the Onco.Rehab oncology clinic, you can get the addresses of our reliable partners, where lymph node biopsies are performed in accordance with international standards.