Lymph nodes are biological filters that belong to the organs of the body's lymphatic system. Lymph flows in the lymph nodes, which is formed from the interstitial fluid and consists of a large number of lymphocytes.
These biological filters are part of our immune system, they delay infections that have entered the body, they are the first to react to their penetration into the body.
Cervical lymph nodes are normal
Normal cervical lymph nodes are round in shape with a diameter of 3 to 8 mm, submandibular - up to 1 cm. In the absence of pathologies, they are soft, mobile, and when pressed are not painful, not hot, not soldered to each other.
Let's list the groups of lymph nodes in the neck and head. Their location becomes clear by name:
- lymph nodes of the submandibular region;
- mental lymph nodes;
- occipital;
- deep and superficial cervical;
- tonsillar lymph nodes;
- Parotid and mastoid (behind the ear).
Causes of increased lymphaticknots
The consequence of the infectious process in the body may be hypersensitivity and enlargement of the lymph nodes in the neck. Doctors call this pathology cervical lymphadenitis. The nodes may react even before the onset of symptoms of the disease. The danger of lymphadenitis lies in the proximity of these lymph nodes to the brain, and if no action is taken in time, then there is a risk of infection of its structures and membranes.
The causes of these symptoms is that the body has launched an immune response and began to fight infection, most often due to the toxins of pathogenic microorganisms, such as streptococci and staphylococci, that have penetrated into the bloodstream. The first thing to find out is where the primary focus of infection is located. Most often, these are organs in the immediate vicinity of the lymph node.
- Enlargement of lymph nodes in the neck, in particular behind the ear and submandibular, often occurs due to diseases of the upper respiratory tract, such as: tonsillitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, tracheitis.
- Dental inflammation (gingivitis, stomatitis, caries, pulpitis).
- Abscesses, festering wounds, boils in the neck area.
- Specific lymphadenitis develops due to syphilis, gonorrhea, tuberculosis.
- Infection from animal bites or scratches.
- Teething in children. Immunity during this period works in full force, so a temporary increase in the lymph nodes in the child's neck is allowed. But do not worry, over time they will return to normal.
Symptoms of lymphadenitis
The main symptoms of inflammation of the lymph nodes will be as follows:
- enlargement of lymph nodes in size, fuzzy contours, adhesion of groups of lymph nodes;
- increased skin temperature on the surface of the lymph node;
- soreness of the inflamed lymph node, as well as pain when touching it;
- neck swelling;
- signs of intoxication: fever, weakness, body aches, loss of appetite.
Diagnosis
To determine the cause of inflammation, when contacting a medical facility, the doctor will collect all the data on complaints, conduct an examination, and assess the general condition. Additional examination methods may be needed to accurately determine the initial cause of inflammation and prescribe adequate treatment: a blood test, an x-ray of the node and nearby organs, computed tomography, a test for tumor markers, a biopsy.
If the lymph node is enlarged, but does not hurt - this is not a reason to be inactive. An asymptomatic increase may be a sign of the onset of cancer.
Enlargement of the lymph node on the neck on one side
Inflammation can be in one or several lymph nodes on one side. According to the intensity of pain sensations, the location of the enlarged lymph nodes, it can be assumed in which organ the initial pathology is located. With unilateral inflammation of the nodes, the cause must be sought in the organ or tissue next to this inflammation.
If there is pain when turning the head, soreness when pressing onan enlarged lymph node on one side behind the ear - this may be a consequence of unilateral otitis media.
If the enlarged right lymph node on the neck hurts either on the left or on both sides under the chin, this may indicate purulent sore throat or inflammation of the tonsils.
Severe pain in the submaxillary often occurs due to caries, pulpitis, problems with the wisdom tooth.
The cause of an enlarged lymph node in the back of the child's neck on the right can be infectious mononucleosis. Also, the posterior neck increases with tuberculosis and meningitis.
Inflammation of the lymph node, especially in children, can develop from scratching a domestic cat. According to statistics, half of the cats in the absence of symptoms themselves are carriers of a bacterium called bartonella, and if a child with a not yet fully strengthened immune system bites or scratches, a disease called "cat scratch disease" can develop. The wound may not heal for a long time and in place, next to it, the lymph nodes may increase. Inguinal and axillary lymph nodes may also increase.
Which specialists to contact
With an increase in lymph nodes in the neck in an adult, you should consult a therapist, and show the child to a pediatrician. In some cases, an examination by an infectious disease specialist, oncologist, hematologist, endocrinologist may be prescribed.
Features of the treatment of the disease
Only a specialist can prescribe the correct and adequate treatment. Below we list what to do with an increase in lymph nodes is not worth it:
- No wayself-medicate - the sick person himself will not be able to accurately determine why the lymph nodes in the neck are enlarged. Often it is necessary to carry out additional comprehensive diagnostics to determine whether inflammation has occurred due to an infection in the body or is triggered by a tumor process. With self-administration of antibiotics, there is a risk of their uselessness if the doctor has not determined the sensitivity of the patient's body to them or the disease is not caused by bacteria, but by a tumor or HIV infection. Because of this, you can miss the time to treat the underlying problem.
- Very often you can get advice from illiterate people about warming up enlarged lymph nodes in the neck. In no case should this be done, warming up can provoke a further spread of the infection to other organs and tissues. Also provoke swelling and fever. No heating pads or compresses are required for the treatment.
- In case of swelling, applying a heating pad with ice is also not recommended. With an unexplained cause of inflammation, cold can only worsen the patient's condition.
- Folk remedies are not recommended due to unproven clinical effect. This can only aggravate the situation. After all, the cause of the disease can be very serious.
Depending on the cause of the disease, the doctor may prescribe such groups of drugs as:
- antibiotics (if the cause is a bacterial infection), antifungal drugs (for fungal infections);
- antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs;
- antihistamines (with the allergic nature of lymphadenitis);
- immunostimulating, multivitamins.
Sometimes physiotherapy is prescribed, for example, UHF therapy, but only in cases where there is no infectious process, fever, tachycardia.
For oncological, autoimmune diseases, appropriate treatment will be carried out - chemotherapy, immunosuppressants.
It is necessary to observe bed rest, avoid stress and physical overexertion, drafts and hypothermia. Observe the drinking regimen, recommended nutrition, sparing the throat. With a timely visit to a specialist and identification of the cause of an enlarged lymph node in the neck, with the right treatment, a complete recovery occurs.
Complications of lymphadenitis
If lymphadenitis is advanced or complicated, surgery may be needed. Purulent forms of lymphadenitis require an autopsy. The affected lymph node is opened under anesthesia. With the help of a drainage tube, pus is pumped out of it, then the wound is treated with an antiseptic and sutured. Suppurated lymph nodes are sometimes removed and a histological examination is performed for the presence of oncology.
Also, in rare cases today, without appropriate treatment, the disease can be complicated by tissue necrosis, blood poisoning, fistula formation, thrombophlebitis of adjacent veins.
Features of lymphadenitis in children
Causes of enlarged lymph nodes in the neck of a child may be different. Most often they are associated with infectious diseases occurring in the body, a decreaseimmunity, tumor processes. As noted above, lymphadenitis in children may be associated with teething, mononucleosis, cat scratch disease.
To begin with, the pediatrician will examine the child for infections in the mouth and diseases of the upper respiratory tract, since swollen lymph nodes in children under 12 years of age are often associated precisely with diseases of nearby organs.
Purulent tonsillitis will lead to an increase in the lymph nodes in the neck, and the accumulation of pus in them - acute lymphadenitis. With otitis media, boils in the ear, the lymph node behind the ear becomes inflamed, and with caries, pulpitis, the submandibular lymph nodes.
It happens that during an acute respiratory disease, the lymph node increases, but does not cause pain. This is due to the imperfect immune system of the child, which primarily takes over the fight against infection and reacts strongly to it.
According to the well-known pediatrician Yevgeny Olegovich Komarovsky, an increase in the lymph nodes in the neck of a child is a common occurrence. Basically, this symptom indicates a natural reaction of the child's immune system and does not require any drug intervention or additional examinations, except for a general blood test. Indeed, in it the attending physician will be able to see the leukocyte formula and take appropriate measures, if necessary. With a high degree of probability, the symptom will pass without a trace.
Prevention measures
Prevention of swollen lymph nodes in the neck in an adult and a child includes the following activities:
- Hardeningbody, a full-fledged varied diet, compliance with the regime of work and rest.
- Timely treatment of wounds and skin injuries with antiseptics to prevent infection, suppuration, blood poisoning.
- Visit the dentist and treat carious teeth in time. Through the enamel destroyed by carious bacteria, the infection easily penetrates, soft tissues can be affected. Therefore, a visit to the dentist 2 times a year is necessary for both children and adults.
- Prophylactic examination of the body.
- Timely treatment of tonsillitis, sinusitis, otitis media will prevent complications. It is important not to abandon the prescribed course of antibiotic therapy and fight the disease to the end.
Conclusion
As is clear from the article, the lymph nodes perform an important function in the human body. All systems in our body are interconnected and the received signals in the form of enlarged lymph nodes cannot be ignored.
Timely access to a doctor, diagnosis of the primary source of the disease, properly selected treatment of enlarged lymph nodes in the neck will lead to recovery, and the use of preventive measures will prevent its recurrence.
