The lymphatic system is of great importance for the harmonious functioning of the body. With the help of lymph nodes, the body creates a kind of protective barrier that does not allow cancer cells and infections to develop. In addition, the process of lymph filtration takes place in them. The main discomfort that a lymph node can cause is inflammation. Why is this happening and what to do in such a situation?
Symptoms of inflammation of the lymph nodes
This disease is called lymphadenitis and is usually diagnosed without much difficulty. First of all, an increase in the affected area in size is noticeable. Most often, inflammation of the cervical lymph nodes occurs, but bulges can also appear in the groin area. When you press the tumor, pain is felt, the skin integuments thicken and turn red. Sometimes the inflammatory process is purulent. In some cases, accompanying symptoms are headache, weakness, fever. With a mild form of the disease, one lymph node can be inflamed, inflammation of a group or all at once occurs in more severe cases. With the defeat of the inguinal nodes, leg movements are difficult, with discomfort in the ears and neckproblems arise with chewing and swallowing, neck mobility worsens. With purulent inflammation, intoxication can occur with fever, loss of appetite and weakness. If left untreated, abscesses develop, forming purulent fistulas.
Causes of inflammation of the lymph nodes
Usually this is a secondary process. The root cause is the disease that caused the inflammation. Diagnosis involves the establishment of this primary disease and analysis of the development of the disease in case of a possible occurrence of pathologies. Since the lymph nodes are inherently a barrier to microbes, you need to look for the cause of suppuration along the lymph flow. If the infection is not too strong, the node copes with inflammation without swelling. If the exposure to microbes is too strong, the body cannot cope. From the accumulation of negative factors and the lymph node increases, inflammation worsens the course of the primary disease and brings a lot of inconvenience. It is impossible to leave such a situation without attention.
Inflammation treatment
Treatment, first of all, involves the impact on the root cause. In addition, you can use a method such as spraying the skin of the damaged area with chloroethyl. The skin cools and hardens, after a couple of treatments the inflammation stops. In parallel with such treatment, it is recommended to apply heparin ointment or troxevasin to the lymph node. Inflammation most often does not require surgical intervention, operations are necessaryonly with abscesses or adenomophlegmons. The affected area is anesthetized, after which the node is treated and sutured. The use of antibiotics will also be justified, which will help reduce the lymph node. Inflammation is instantly stopped if the drug is chosen correctly. It lasts up to two weeks and effectively reduces the size of the lymph nodes.
