Often people notice small bumps on their necks, it is worth touching them - and pain is felt. What is it, what is the reason for their appearance? And the answer is simple - it's lymph nodes. They are part of the lymphatic system responsible for the production of immune cells - mainly lymphocytes. Their main task is to neutralize viruses, pathogenic microorganisms that penetrate the body from the environment. How to treat inflammation of the lymph nodes, let's talk further. It should be remembered that this is a serious pathology, accompanied by infections and pathological conditions. When pathogenic microorganisms get inside, a protective mechanism immediately starts - lymphocytes are intensively produced, which is why an increase occurs.
Groups of lymph nodes
Lymphatic vessels run throughout the human body, but the lymph nodes are mainly concentrated in the groin, neck and armpits. They are necessary in order to cleanse it of viruses, "wrong cells" and pathogenic bacteria. Their increase indicates that the infection has settled very close to them. How to treat lymph nodes in the neck is a difficult question, because they may indicate a sore throat or otitis media.
BThere are several groups of lymph nodes in the neck:
- anterior cervical deep and superficial;
- posterior cervical deep and superficial;
- chin;
- ear;
- submandibular;
- occipital.
In a normal state, most of the nodes are not palpable, but as soon as an infection appears, they immediately become activated to fight the virus.
Causes of swollen lymph nodes in the neck
Why do the lymph nodes in the neck become inflamed? How to treat them correctly? There are many reasons for the increase in size. The inflammatory process can be an independent pathology or a consequence of the underlying disease.
Nodes in the neck are responsible for the processes affecting the soft tissues of the face and neck, mouth, ears, which is why, before answering the question of how to treat lymph nodes in the neck, you need to find out the cause of inflammation:
Infections that mainly affect the respiratory and oral cavity: influenza, tonsillitis, chickenpox, rubella, stomatitis, caries and others
- Failures in the immune system. A large number of pathogenic cells may be associated with untreated ailments, hypothermia, lack of minerals and vitamins, and stressful situations. It is believed that the lymph nodes in people infected with AIDS systematically increase, but this is not so. Groups of lymph nodes are enlarged in patients with HIV, not individual nodules.
- Regeneration of lymph tissue cells in patients with malignant neoplasms.
- Injuries and accidental tissue damagearound the node.
In rare cases, there are other reasons:
- failures in metabolic processes;
- thyroid dysfunction;
- allergic reactions;
- chronic alcoholism.
Only after finding out the cause, you can correctly answer the question of how to treat inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck.
Increased lymph nodes in the groin: causes
Increased sizes of nodes in the groin in women and men may indicate a specific ailment:
- infections that entered the body through wounds on the feet, legs or buttocks: furunculosis, film dermatitis, BCG vaccination;
- pathologies caused by viruses or bacteria, such as mononucleosis, cytomegalovirus, herpes, gonorrhea, syphilis, erysipelas and others.
Cancer can cause inflammation of the lymph nodes in the groin. Therefore, to say exactly how to treat lymph nodes in the groin, the doctor will say after examining and finding out the cause of such a symptom. In women, knots in the groin become inflamed most often due to gynecological pathologies: endometritis, peritonitis, bartholinitis, adnexitis.
Why do the lymph nodes under the armpits become inflamed?
Under the armpits, the lymph nodes become inflamed when viruses and bacteria enter the body. Infections and colds can cause the nodule to become inflamed and enlarged. In women, diseases of the mammary glands immediately lead to an inflammatory process in the nodes located under the armpits. Malignant neoplasms can be another cause of inflammation. Also, the inflammatory process can cause:
- thrombophlebitis;
- furuncle;
- erysipelas;
- allergic reactions;
- trophic ulcers.
If the patient is completely he althy, the lymph nodes should not be palpated.
What are the signs to recognize inflammation of the lymph nodes?
Inflammation of the lymph nodes in medicine is called lymphadenitis. This disease is hard to ignore. The first signal is enlarged nodes in the neck, pelvis, under the arms. Other symptoms also appear:
- pain in the area of enlarged nodes;
- touch sensitivity;
- redness;
- seal.
In rare cases, other symptoms may appear:
- purulent inflammation;
- headache;
- weakness all over the body;
- high body temperature.
Both one node and a group can become inflamed, so it is important to determine the cause, and only after that you can answer the question of how to treat inflamed lymph nodes.
Types of inflammation of the lymph nodes
There are several types of lymphadenitis:
- Purulent. The disease proceeds in a complex form, accompanied by severe constant pain in the lymph nodes. With this type, the nodes seem to merge with one another and with nearby tissues. Another distinguishing feature is the immobility of the nodes. Purulent fusion also occurs when suppuration appears in nearby soft tissues. The skin in this place turns red, resulting in a tumor with clear edges, densityit may be different. The danger of this species is that inflammation quickly spreads throughout the body.
- Non-purulent. This type does not bring such suffering as in the first case, and all because the general condition does not change. Lymph nodes are compacted, mobile and enlarged. Pain only appears on palpation.
Also, there are two types of the course of the disease:
The acute period lasts about two weeks. It differs by a sudden onset, pain in the nodes sharply appears, and they increase in size. High body temperature and general malaise are characteristic of this type
The chronic form lasts about a month, appears after the acute one. This condition provides for enlarged nodes without discomfort. Most often there are no other manifestations
In the chronic form, the doctor recommends that the patient undergo a cytological and histological examination, after confirming the diagnosis, you can say exactly how to treat inflammation of the lymph nodes.
Traditional treatments for lymphadenitis
Knot therapy is prescribed for connective tissue pathology. In this case, the doctor prescribes UHF therapy - a physiotherapeutic method that involves exposing the body to an electromagnetic field with a high frequency.
It is recommended to take anti-inflammatory drugs only as prescribed by a doctor in order to prevent the manifestation of undesirable effects. Antibiotics are recommended for lymphadenitis only if the disease manifested itself due to ingestionpathogenic bacteria or with purulent complications.
How to treat a lymph node under the arm? First of all, you need bed rest, taking a vitamin complex and drinking plenty of warm water.
A purulent inflammatory process in some cases may require surgery to clear the nodes.
When treating knots in the groin, it is recommended:
- stick to bed rest and diet;
- the main drugs are antibiotics, as a common cause of the disease is an infection, broad-spectrum drugs can be prescribed until the cause is clarified;
- Anti-inflammatory and pain relievers are additionally recommended.
Heating is strictly contraindicated.
If lymph nodes hurt in any part of the body, the doctor will tell you how to treat them, but practice has shown that complex therapy gives the desired results in a short time. It is recommended to combine folk and traditional therapy.
Folk treatments
Folk methods will help traditional treatment, speed up the recovery process, but can also do harm if they were chosen incorrectly. How to treat lymph nodes at home? Take decoctions, tinctures that do an excellent job with viruses and inflammation. The following recipes have proven their effectiveness:
Echinacea tincture is considered a good antiseptic, it copes well with inflammation in the lymphatic system. It is enough to take 10 drops of tincture, previouslyadded to 50 ml of water, 4 times a day, and the inflammation will quickly go away
- Green jadeite is a stone that does a great job of cleansing the body. It should be the size of a lymph node, apply it to the inflamed area for 10 minutes several times a day.
- Canadian goldenseal powder in the amount of 1 tsp. diluted in a glass of water. Take a glass a day, sour-milk products should prevail in the diet to prevent indigestion.
- To rinse your mouth, you can use a decoction of calendula, chamomile and mint, the procedure is carried out up to 4 times a day.
- Soda and s alt are suitable for rinsing, dilute 1/2 teaspoon of each product in a glass of hot water, cool and rinse 3-4 times a day.
- Aloe juice take 1 tbsp. l. daily.
- Massage with essential oils helps speed up recovery. You need to mix 1 part each of lavender, eucalyptus, tea tree oil and add 20 parts of olive and almond oil. The massage should be light so as not to cause pain and discomfort.
We told how to treat a lymph node if it is inflamed at home, but you need to remember that you can use the described recipes only after consulting a doctor. In no case should you use these tips:
- use heating pads and warm compresses;
- rubbing the site of inflammation;
- apply iodine nets.
All these methods provoke the spread of infection through the blood vessels and aggravate the condition. Costsremember that self-medication can cause the death of a patient if he has severely inflamed lymph nodes in his neck. How to treat correctly, the doctor will tell.
Prevention
There is no prevention of inflammation of the lymph nodes, since this symptom appears for various reasons. To prevent an increase in size, you need to follow these recommendations:
- keep your immune system he althy;
- avoid acute infections;
- eat properly and rationally;
- avoid hypothermia;
- don't stay long in drafts;
- harden, but only do it correctly and in compliance with all recommendations;
- avoid microtrauma and infection of wounds;
- keep personal hygiene;
- use a gauze bandage at the peak of virus development.
If you follow all these tips, then the question of how to treat lymph nodes will not arise.
Lymphadenitis in children
Every mother knows perfectly well every centimeter of her child's body, and when she notices even the slightest bump on it, she begins to find out the reason. If the lymph nodes in the child's neck are inflamed, the pediatrician should advise how to treat. Therefore, first of all, you need to go to an appointment with him and undergo an examination that he will recommend.
Inflammation in children is most often observed at the age of 5-7 years, due to the fact that the lymphatic system is not yet fully formed, and therefore the function of the barrier is not fully performed. As already mentioned, the lymph nodes reactfor infection and bacteria. The increase occurs for the same reasons as in an adult: infections, mechanical injuries, infectious and inflammatory processes. If the lymph nodes in the child's neck are enlarged, how not to treat:
- no warm compresses or heating pads;
- constantly palpate;
- use dubious recipes.
It is better to immediately contact a pediatrician who will examine the child and ask leading questions. They will help to accurately identify the cause, and then prescribe an examination that helps to accurately diagnose and select therapy.
In a child, enlarged nodes may be evidence of the development of a cold, after treatment of which they decrease in size on their own. But sometimes an increase may indicate a disease, but there are cases when a child simply has such a feature of the body.
What to do if the lymph nodes hurt? How to treat to remove discomfort? Inflammation can develop in the body, which you can’t immediately detect with the naked eye, but a general blood test will dot the “i” - the number of lymphocytes will be increased. In what place is the inflammatory process, the doctor will help to find out, who will select the appropriate treatment. For example, if it is a throat, then rinses will be prescribed, and if the reason lies in a bacterial infection, then an antibiotic cannot be dispensed with.
Inflamed lymph nodes indicate the active work of the immune system. The symptoms of inflammation should not be missed by adults, it is especially importantpay attention to those nodes that cause pain and discomfort.
How to treat lymph nodes in a child and an adult? A doctor will help you find the answer, who will conduct an examination, identify the cause and help eliminate it. After that, the lymph nodes themselves will decrease in size, and will not bring discomfort.
Any body signal should not be missed. Even a slight swelling on the body can tell about the development of a serious pathology, which makes itself felt with just such a symptom. No wonder they say that prevention is better than cure. This is especially important when the acute form can easily turn into a purulent one and the problem can be solved surgically. When it comes to enlarged lymph nodes, then there may be a lot of reasons for this, but it is extremely important to find them.
