The main function of the lymphatic system of the human body – the protection of toxins, pathogenic microorganisms and viruses. The most significant elements of this system are the lymph nodes, the size of the that the rule does not exceed a pea.The lymph nodes contain white blood cells of the blood and yellow fluid (lymph).The last bathes the cells of all the organs, located pathogenic micro-organisms and evolved in the cancer cells in the lymph nodes. This mechanism allows you to slow the spread of the infection by the organism and the growth of malignant tumors.
Following directly in the lymph nodes results in the destruction of cancer cells, viruses, and germs lymphocytes, which begin to share. A slight increase of the lymphatic site may mean that he began to work more actively in relationship with the onset of the disease. If it hurts a lymph node in the neck, this indicates that the development of the inflammatory process, you will be close to him.
The causative agent of the disease is able to penetrate in the lymph nodes of the following ways:
- Hematogenous route.
- Through the lymph.
- Contact route.
This reaction of the organism received the name of lymphadenitis. Pathology of the lymphatic system require special attention from a doctor, as they are always a companion of a serious illness. Therefore, it is necessary to address to specialized care.
The causes of cervical lymphadenitis's
The increase of the lymph nodes in the neck most frequently is unilateral. In so doing, he produces the defeat, mainly, in addition to education, which is located near a source of inflammation or infection focus. If the enlarged lymph nodes-causing the growth of the tonsils, the saliva, near the ears, glands tear, you should immediately consult a physician.
If the lymph nodes in the neck increased in the course of several months, the doctor may suspect the presence of malignancy. In these cases, we observe a marked decrease in the elasticity of the lymphatic vessels, its increase, the involvement in the pathological process of all that are very close to the lymph nodes. The lymph node, hard to the touch, is the morbidity.
Therefore, lead to an increase in the lymph node can be any of the following reasons:
- Bacterial, fungal, and viral infections acute tonsillitis acute, tuberculosis, chickenpox, influenza, toxoplasmosis, rubella, stomatitis, otitis media, caries, periodontitis).
- Parasites.
- Mechanics of the injury.
- The human immunodeficiency virus.
- The decrease of the immunity. Current of disease, the stress, the cold, the lack of vitamins can cause lymphadenitis. Frequent infectious diseases can cause chronic lymphadenitis.
- Autoimmune diseases.
- The toxins in the blood.
- Oncology. The development of the lymphadenitis's may be the consequence of a tumor of lymphatic tissue.
- In rare cases, lymphadenitis cause: alcoholism, disorders in the functioning of the thyroid, or metabolism.
Separately distinguish the causes lymphadenitis's:
- Allergy to medications.
- Allergy to the toxins of insects.
- The immune response to the vaccination carried out.
In these cases there is an increase of lymph nodes, clearly expressed the pain, swelling of the face, increased body temperature, chills.
Classification of the disease
Distinguish several stages lymphadenitis's on the basis of the symptoms:
- The pain of the lymph nodes in the neck slightly, palpation is defined a slight increase. The patient can mark the weakness of the, headache, and increased body temperature for a very long time.
- A lymph node has been considerably increased, it is determined visually (can vary in size from a pea up to that of the eggs), pain on palpation, during the act of swallowing. The patient complains of weakness, increased body temperature, unpleasant sensations during the rotation of the head, decreased appetite, headaches.
- Pain and redness in the area lymph node testify the evolution of the suppurative inflammation. The patient is observed a high temperature (up to 40), fever, chills, bad mood, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. Constant headaches, dizziness can indicate a serious intoxication of the organism.
In the lymphadenitis listed above, the symptoms may not be present. Diagnosing the condition is very problematic, since the lymph nodes may almost not noticeable to the touch. In these cases, the lack of treatment will lead to progressive irreversible degeneration of the cervical lymph nodes.
Neck lymphadenitis in children
The inflammation of lymph nodes widely common in children, who often suffer from colds. The inflammatory process can occur even in childhood, however, in these cases, the host diagnostics difficult. The children often enough, the lymph nodes increase during the cold and disappear by themselves after the recovery. You must also remember that some of the lymph nodes due to their special location (individual characteristics of the child) can only be to look great and do not require treatment.
The causes of the development of lymphadenitis''s children far, the most common are:
- Bacterial and viral infection (sore throat, influenza, toxoplasmosis, mononucleosis).
- The reaction to the celebration by the vaccine.
- Damage in the epidermis (scratches from cats, rodents).
Remember!
If a lymph node is concerned of the children for a long time, for no apparent reason, in the body is inflammation. Kind of definitive Diagnosis and assign an effective treatment for the doctor can only after the completion of a corresponding diagnosis.
Lymphadenitis pregnant women
Special danger leads to the inflammation of lymph nodes during pregnancy, because this disease can leave negative consequences for both the body of the mother and the fetus. The disease occurs due to the reduction of the immunity of the woman during the gestation of the child, can cause your to the same factors. In these cases, the complexity can occur when the selection of medications.
During pregnancy it is strictly forbidden to treat lymphadenitis by itself. You should consult a doctor who will be able to find out the cause of the inflammation, assign effective and safe medicines. Treat your health with care and when the first unpleasant symptoms it is best to consult with a specialist.
The main methods for the diagnosis of the pathology
There are over a hundred different diseases, that are able to provoke a reaction in the lymphatic system. Therefore, it is necessary to perform differential diagnosis of pathology, paying attention even on the minor symptoms.
Today more accessible and informative method of diagnosis is ultrasonography (ultrasound). Allows you to define the size and shape of the lymph nodes, evaluate their structure, in some cases the nature of the defeat of the entities. For example, herpetic infection leads to an increase of several of the lymph nodes at the same time.
It is important to understand that the ability of the ultrasound are limited, therefore, to confirm the diagnosis, it may be necessary to perform more clinical and laboratory features:- Clinical analysis of blood.
- The magnetic resonance imaging.
- Ct.
- The x-ray.
- The biopsy lymphatic site followed by a histological examination of the tissues.
Important!
An x-ray method is only effective if and when the calcification sentinel node, that is to say, the reservoir in lymphoid formations of calcium salts. These changes will require several years, or expressed by the metabolic disorders.
The treatment of the
If the pain of the lymph nodes in the neck, the therapy should include treatments that will allow to solve the focus of the inflammation and the symptoms of the pathology. Treatment should be strictly individual, depending on the cause of the disease and its stage. It is important to remember that the lymphatic system is a physiological shield for the body, thanks to the ability to produce lymphocytes, which are able to fight against the pathogenic agents of diseases of different nature (viruses, bacteria, parasites). That is why with a simple inflammation in the body is able to handle independently.
If a lymph node pain for a long time at the bottom of the intoxication of the organism, are widely used in the following outline of treatment:
- The decrease of physical activities, rest, drink plenty of fluids.
- The use of anti-inflammatory agents, which have a mild antibacterial effect. The inefficiency is possible the use of steroid drugs.
- Additional use of analgesics and broad-spectrum antibiotics on the background of the strengthening of the means of receiving vitamin will speed up the recovery.
- Is it possible to use the popular methods as a complementary therapy: rinse the throat decoctions of medicinal herbs (chamomile, calendula), which will allow the town to influence the focus of the inflammation. It is important to remember that natural medicine can act only as complementary treatment.
- Correction of the power. You should increase in the diet the amount containing vitamins, vegetables (onions, citrus), that will help in the fight against the infection, add the fermented dairy products.
- The allocation of uhf, the therapy will allow to shorten the time of recovery. This therapeutic methodology is based on the effects of electromagnetic fields of uhf frequencies in the inflamed area.
- To lack of timely medical care in the clinical cases resort to surgical treatment (spend the puncture or the complete resection lymphatic site).
When lymphadenitis in a lymph node can not heat, crush and apply on affected area iodine. These activities may cause the spread of infection, increasing the risk of brain injury.
Basic measures for prevention of
Specific prevention lymphadenitis's does not exist, because this disease refers to the polyetiological disease (pathology, in development and for many reasons).
However, to prevent the inflammation of the lymph nodes will allow the following activities:
- Correct regular temple.
- The maintenance of the health of the immune system.
- The timely treatment of acute infectious diseases, which does not allow access to them in a chronic form.
- Maximum exclude from hypothermia and stay in the cold air.
- Reduce the risk of injury, infection of the wounds.
It is important to remember that any type of discomfort in the neck, the nape of the neck and under the jaw in the majority of cases are related to symptoms of anxiety. The lymph nodes in the neck increase in size and painful only if there is a serious inflammatory process. To prevent the realization of radical intervention is necessary when there is the syndrome of pain immediately and consult a specialist and comply with all the standards.