The main function of the lymphatic system of the human body protection against toxins, pathogens, and viruses. The most important elements of this system are the lymph nodes, the size of which is normal does not exceed the size of a pea.The lymph nodes contain white blood cells and yellow fluid (lymph).The latter bathes the cells of all the organs, the localization of pathogens and alters the cancer cells in the lymph nodes. This mechanism allows you to delay the spread of the infection in the body and the growth of malignant tumors.
Then, directly in the lymph nodes takes place the destruction of cancerous cells, viruses and germs lymphocytes, which begin to share. A slight increase of lymph nodes can mean that it has started to work more actively related with the onset of the disease. If a sore lymph node in the neck, it is said about the development of the inflammatory process in the immediate vicinity.
The causative agent of the disease is able to seep into the lymph nodes of one of the following ways:
- Hematogenous way.
- Through the lymph.
- - Pin path.
This reaction of the organism has received the name of lymphadenitis. The disease of the lymphatic system require a special attention of the doctor, because it always is the companion of a serious illness. This is why you should seek such medical care.
The causes of cervical lymphadenitis's
Swollen lymph nodes in the neck is often one-way. With the defeat primarily that of education, which is located near a source of inflammation or infection of the home. If enlarged lymph nodes cause the growth of tonsils, salivary, near the ears, glands, lacrimal glands, then you should immediately talk to a doctor.
If the lymph nodes in the neck increased in a few months, the doctor may suspect the presence of a malignant tumour of education. In such cases, there is a strong decrease of the elasticity of the lymphatic vessels, increases the involvement in the pathological processes are all located in close proximity to lymph nodes. Himself ganglion firm to the touch, the pain is different.
Therefore, lead to an increase of the lymph nodes can the following reasons:
- Bacterial, fungal and viral, acute respiratory infections (ari, acute tonsillitis, tuberculosis, chickenpox, influenza, toxoplasmosis, rubella, mouth sores, otitis media, dental caries, periodontitis).
- Parasites.
- A mechanical trauma.
- The human immunodeficiency virus.
- Decrease of the immunity. Current of disease, stress, cold, lack of vitamins can cause lymphadenitis. The common infectious diseases may lead to chronic lymphadenitis.
- The auto-immune diseases.
- The toxins in the blood.
- Oncology. The development of lymphadenitis's may be a consequence of the appearance of the tumor of the lymph tissue.
- Quite rarely lymphadenitis cause: alcoholism, dysfunction of the thyroid or metabolism.
Assign separately for these reasons lymphadenitis's:
- Allergies to medication.
- Allergic to the toxins of insects.
- The immune response to the work of the vaccination.
In such cases, the increase of lymph nodes, significantly expressed pain, it is possible swelling of the face, fever, chills.
The classification of the disease
To distinguish between several different phases lymphadenitis's as a function of the symptomatology:
- Sore swollen lymph nodes in the neck slightly, palpation is determined by a slight increase. The patient may mark a weakness, headache, and fever of the body for a long period of time.
- Lymph node increased significantly, is determined visually (can vary in size from a pea to that of eggs), tenderness to palpation, during the act of swallowing. The patient complains of the weakness, the fever of the body, unpleasant sensations during the rotation of the head, loss of appetite, headache.
- Pain and redness in the lymph node region bear witness to the evolution of the purulent inflammation. The patient has a high temperature (up to 40), fever, chills, bad mood, lethargy, nausea, and vomiting. Headaches, dizziness can indicate a serious intoxication of the organism.
During the chronic lymphadenitis, as listed above, the symptoms may be absent. Diagnosing the condition is very problematic, because the lymph nodes can virtually not perceptible to the touch. In such cases, the absence of treatment will lead to progressive and irreversible degeneration of the cervical lymph nodes.
Cervical lymphadenitis in childhood
The inflammation of the lymph nodes are common in children, who often suffer from colds. The inflammatory process may occur even in childhood, but in such cases, the diagnosis of the host is difficult. In children, quite often the lymph nodes are increasing in the time of the common cold and go away on their own after the healing. It should also be remembered that some of the lymph nodes, because of its special provision (the individual characteristics of the child), can only seem greater, and do not require treatment.
The reasons for the development lymphadenitis's in children is much more common:
- Bacterial infection and viral (sore throat, influenza, toxoplasmosis, mononucleosis).
- The reaction on the work of the vaccination.
- Skin lesions (scratches, cats, rodents).
Don't forget!
If the lymph node worried for the child over a long period of time without any apparent reason, the body will inflammation. Make the diagnosis and prescribe an effective treatment can be a doctor after the adoption of diagnosis.
Lymphadenitis pregnant women
A particular hazard is responsible for the inflammation of the lymph nodes during pregnancy because the disease can leave negative consequences for both the body of the mother and the fetus. The disease is caused by a decreased immunity of the wife during the gestation of the child, can cause the same factors. In such cases, the complexity may occur in the selection of medication.
During pregnancy is strictly forbidden to treat lymphadenitis yourself. You need to consult a doctor who will be able to determine the cause of the inflammation, to appoint, effective and safe medicines. Treat your health carefully, and when the first unpleasant symptoms it is best to consult a specialist.
The main methods of diagnosis of pathology
There are over a hundred different diseases, which are capable of causing a reaction of the lymphatic system. This is why the need for a differential diagnosis of the pathology, pay attention to the minor symptoms.
Today, the most accessible and informative method of diagnosis is ULTRASOUND. It allows you to determine the size and shape of the lymph nodes, evaluate their structure, in some cases, the nature of the lesions and of the entities. For example, herpetic infection causes an increase of several lymph nodes at the time.
It is important to understand that the potential of ultrasound are limited, so to confirm the diagnosis may be necessary to other clinical and laboratory:- The clinical analysis of blood.
- MRI.
- A computed tomography scan.
- X-ray.
- Biopsy lymph node with the subsequent realization of the histological examination of tissues.
It is important!
An x-ray of the method will be effective only if the calcification of the sentinel node, it is the deposition in the formations of lymphoid calcium salts. For these changes, it will take several years, or expressed the metabolism.
Treatment
If sore lymph nodes in the neck, this treatment should include treatment procedures that can effectively eliminate the foyer of the inflammation and the symptoms of the disorder. The treatment must be customized strictly individually, depending on the cause of the disease and its stage. It is important to remember that the lymphatic system is physiological of a shield for the body with the ability to produce lymphocytes, which are able to fight against the pathogenic agents of diseases of different nature (viruses, bacteria, parasites). So it is with a simple inflammation of the body is capable of doing so themselves.
If the lymph node painful for a long period on the bottom of a poisoning of the body, it is widely used the following scheme for the treatment of:
- The reduction of physical workloads, rest, drink plenty of fluids.
- The application of anti-inflammatory drugs, which have mild antibacterial. The inefficiency may be the use of steroids.
- The additional use of painkillers and broad-spectrum antibiotics on the merits of the tonic, the reception of preparations of vitamin will speed up the recovery.
- Perhaps the use of popular methods such as adjunctive treatment: gargle with a decoction of medicinal plants (chamomile, calendula), which will work locally on the hearth of inflammation. It is important to remember that traditional medicine can only act as adjuvant therapy.
- Correction of the power supply. You must increase in the diet of a number containing vitamins a, vegetables, fruits (onions, citrus), which help fight infection, add dairy products.
- The appointment UHF-therapy and will reduce the time of recovery. This therapeutic method is based on the impact of electromagnetic fields of ultra-high frequency on the inflamed area.
- In the absence of medical care in a timely manner in clinical cases have recourse to surgical treatment (by puncture or complete excision of lymph nodes).
At the lymphadenitis lymph node it is impossible to heat, rub and apply on the affected area of the iodine. These activities may cause the spread of infection, increasing the risk of brain damage.
The main prevention measures
Specific prevention lymphadenitis's does not exist, because this disease refers to polyetiological diseases (pathology, in development for many reasons).
However, to prevent the inflammation of lymph nodes allow for the following activities:
- Good, regular hardness.
- The maintenance of the health of the immune system.
- The timely treatment of acute infectious diseases, which do not allow to pass their chronic.
- In addition, to limit hypothermia and stay in the cold air.
- Reduce the risk of injury and infection of wounds.
It is important to remember that the unpleasant sensations in the neck, the nape of the neck and under the jaw, in most cases involve disturbing symptoms. Swollen lymph nodes in the neck increase in size, and wrong only in the case of inflammatory process. To avoid radical intervention is necessary in cases of pain, immediately consult a specialist and comply with all the requirements.