Symptoms

The structure of the lymphatic system consists of various organs, blood vessels and many lymph nodes located in different parts of the body, but most of them in the head and neck. The most frequently inflamed lymph nodes in the groin, armpits, head and neck. It is always a sign of some violations. When inflammation of the lymph nodes grow to the size of a pea or bean, sometimes even more.

Depending on the underlying cause, swollen lymph nodes may be accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Runny nose, sore throat, fever and other symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection
• Inflammation of the lymph nodes throughout the body, which may indicate diseases such as mononucleosis, immune disorders (such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis), and even HIV
• Swollen limbs that probably indicates a blockage of the lymphatic system caused by inflammation of the lymph nodes located deep under the skin so that they would not be felt fingers
• Hardened rapidly increasing lymph nodes, which may be a sign of tumors, including malignant
• Heat
• Sweating at night

When you need to see a doctor

Sometimes lymph nodes Lymph nodes - what keeps our immune system   themselves back to normal size when they are cured of the disease caused, for example, a minor infection. Contact your doctor if:

• Lymph nodes continue to grow or not to accept the standard size for two weeks or more
• Lymph nodes are very hard
• Inflammation of the lymph nodes is accompanied by persistent fever, sweating during sleep Dreams: how to understand our dreams   and weight loss, sore throat, difficulty swallowing and breathing.

Lymph node - a small cluster of cells covered by connective tissue. These cells - a combination of lymphocytes (they produce proteins and protect the body from invasion by, for example, viruses), and macrophages, which destroy microorganisms caught lymphocytes. Thus, lymphocytes and macrophages is filtered lymph fluid.

Most often, they become inflamed due to viral infections or for the common cold. However, other infections, including bacterial and parasite that can cause inflammation of lymph nodes.

Among them:

• Angina
• Measles
• Ear infections
• Tooth abscess
• Mononucleosis
• Cellulitis and erysipelas
• HIV
• Tuberculosis
• Some diseases, sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis
• Toxoplasmosis - parasitic infection that occurs after contact with the feces of an infected animal or by eating undercooked meat
• Cat scratch disease - a bacterial infection that occurs after you are bitten or scratched infected cat
• Lupus - a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, heart and lungs
• Rheumatoid arthritis Arthritis - a variety of forms and complications   - A chronic inflammatory disease that affects the synovial membrane (membrane of joints)
• Lymphoma
• Leukemia
• Other cancers

In rare cases, inflammation of the lymph nodes causing some medications, such as medicine against epilepsy Epilepsy - a sacred disease   phenytoin, and drugs used to prevent malaria.

Treatment

In order to correctly assign treatment for inflammation of the lymph nodes, you first need to ascertain the cause of this disorder. Usually this is just a simple blood test, but in some cases also require inspection using X-ray or CT scan. If there is suspicion of serious diseases such as cancer, a doctor may prescribe a biopsy of a lymph node.

In most cases, the cause is a viral inflammation of the lymph nodes or other infection. With standard treatment for pain and fever used medicines such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, and the antibiotics or antiviral drugs to fight the virus.

If the patient is found abscess Abscess - why it is so dangerous ulcers? , It opened and drained. If the lymph node Lymph nodes - what keeps our immune system   inflamed due to cancer, requires surgery, or chemotherapy radiolechenie. In the case of an allergic reaction can not only eliminate the need to trigger allergy and for a few weeks to take Allergy drugs.

Generally, inflammation of lymph nodes does not indicate a serious or life-threatening disease and passes through several weeks even without treatment. However, to make sure that your health is not in danger, with the appearance of this symptom is strongly recommended to see a doctor.

Acute inflammation of the lymph nodes

Acute inflammation of the lymph nodes begins with pain and enlarged lymph nodes, headaches, weakness, malaise, fever. Often, swollen lymph nodes occurs with inflammation of the lymphatic vessels.

Severity of signs of inflammation depends on inflammation in the place where I came from infection. But sometimes when calming inflammation in the primary foci of inflammation in the lymph nodes continues.

Acute inflammation of the lymph nodes can be catarrhal (inflammation without pus), hemorrhagic (in the inflammatory fluid has an admixture of blood) and purulent.

When catarrh in the lymph nodes suffers a little overall, regional (located at the primary site of infection) lymph nodes are enlarged and painful, with the surrounding tissues are not soldered, the skin over them is not changed. When pus pain becomes intense, the skin over the lymph nodes red and inflamed lymph nodes are fixed, there are common signs of inflammation - fever, headaches.

Purulent process can lead to the death of lymph nodes, followed by their replacement by connective tissue and impaired lymphatic drainage (edema) in this area.

Acute inflammation of the lymph nodes may be complicated by thrombophlebitis (inflammation of veins), purulent process spread to the surrounding tissues, blood poisoning (sepsis). The acute form of the disease may also become chronic.

Chronic inflammation of the lymph nodes

Chronic inflammation of the lymph nodes may occur chronically from the start at low-intensity inflammatory diseases (such as chronic sore throat) or occur after an acute process. Chronic inflammation in the lymph nodes often accompanied by the growth of tissue and is very rarely accompanied by suppuration.

In chronic lymphadenitis, and observed an increase in seal glands that feels dense, painless, not soldered to surrounding tissues. At the same time the lymph nodes are enlarged for a long time, but then also reduced due to the proliferation of these connective tissue and wrinkling. In some cases, marked proliferation of connective tissue in the lymph nodes can lead to frustration and lymph edema.

Complications

If the cause of swollen lymph nodes is infection, if untreated, can cause the following complications:

• The formation of an abscess. Abscess - collection of pus is in one place, caused by infection. Pus, in addition to the fluid contains white blood cells, dead tissue particles, bacteria or other microorganisms. To cure an abscess may need drainage and antibiotics. If the abscess affects vital organs, it can cause serious harm to health
• Infection of the blood (bacteremia). Bacterial infection in any part of the body can develop into septicemia - blood poisoning. Sepsis if untreated leads to failure of vital organs and death. Requires hospitalization and treatment with intravenous antibiotics.

Analysis and diagnosis

To determine the cause of inflammation of the lymph nodes using the following methods:

• The study of history. The doctor finds out what the patient was ill earlier and detail asks him about the development of the disease.
• Medical checkup. Place the inflamed lymph nodes Swollen lymph nodes - a sign of trouble in the body Their size, the softness or hardness, helping to make the preliminary assumption of the cause.
• Blood test
• Medical imaging: X-rays or CT scans can help detect potential sources of infection or tumor
• Lymph node biopsy. If these methods do not help make an accurate diagnosis, a biopsy may be needed - during the procedure for the analysis taking a small tissue sample lymph nodes.

Treatment

In the initial stages of acute inflammation of the lymph nodes prescribe rest for the affected organ, anti-inflammatory treatment (antibiotics, physiotherapy), the treatment of the primary site of infection (the timely opening of ulcers). Antibiotics are appointed only after a laboratory study of discharge from the primary site of infection and susceptibility of pathogens to antibiotics. If the process becomes purulent, the surgery is performed: reveal ulcers and treat open sores.

The choice of treatment depends on what caused the inflammation of the lymph nodes.

• Infection. The most common remedy for swollen lymph nodes caused by a bacterial infection - with antibiotics. To relieve pain and fever uses such non-prescription drugs, like aspirin, ibuprofen and acetaminophen.
• Immune disorders. If the lymph nodes are inflamed due to disorders such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis Arthritis - a variety of forms and complications Is assigned to a special treatment for these diseases.
• Cancer. Depending on the type and stage of cancer, may require surgery, or chemotherapy radiolechenie.

Prevention of inflammation of lymph nodes

Prevention of acute inflammation - warning micro traumas (eg, abrasions feet), which can later become a source of infection and timely treatment of inflammatory processes.

Measures for the prevention of chronic lymphadenitis: timely correct treatment of acute lymphadenitis and increase immunity.