If the lymph node behind the ear is inflamed, what should I do? This is a common question that we will deal with in this article.
Lymph nodes are natural barriers to infections and various toxic substances in the body. However, there are cases when they themselves can be affected by self-detained pathological elements. Inflammatory reactions develop, and the disease itself is called "lymphadenitis". Preschool children get sick with it much more often than adults. This is due to the structural immaturity of the immune system: the lymph nodes do not have a dense connective tissue of their capsules and partitions, and therefore the infection easily penetrates into them.
Description of pathology
Lymphadenitis occurs, as a rule, under the jaw, in the neck, under the armpits and in the groin. It is in these places that clusters of lymph nodes are located. Sometimes the lymph node behind the child's ear becomes inflamed.
They collect lymph from the temporal and parietal regions of the head. In addition, networks of lymphatic vessels connect them with other nodes located in the ear area and those located in the ear salivary glands.
Thus, the lymph node behind the ear can become inflamed if elements of infection from the temporal and parietal tissues of the head, as well as teeth and oral cavity get into it.
Functioning of the lymph node system
Lymph is formed, as a rule, from the intercellular fluid, which contains the decay products of toxins, the remains of cellular structures, dead leukocytes and other microorganisms. Lymph can enter the smallest capillaries, and they, in turn, intertwine with each other, forming lymphatic vessels. Such vessels pass directly to the lymph nodes. They filter fluid through lymphocytes and special reticular cells, which have the unique ability to capture large particles of harmful microorganisms and digest them. After that, the lymph begins to move along the efferent lymphatic vessel, moving towards the next lymph node.
Lymph approaches the large thoracic duct and begins to flow into the human veins, passing directly into the heart chambers. Further, venous blood with pure lymph mixed with it begins to move through the lungs, where it is enriched with oxygen and back through the heart enters the arteries of the body. Purified blood is thus carried to all tissues, enriching them with oxygen, water and nutrients. The lymph circulation closes.
Connection with the circulatory system
It should be concluded that the lymphatic system is tightly connected with the circulatory system, and therefore the main number of lymph nodes is located along the large vessels. Not far from the lymph node behind the ear is a vein that collects blood from the mastoid process located in the temporal bone, as well as branches of this vein that collect blood from the parietal part of the head. The above lymph nodes are located in the region of the temporal bone, where they are covered by the skin. In most cases, they are not visible, it is also impossible to determine them by touch.
Causes behind the ear lymphadenitis
Most often this is a sign of inflammatory processes in the parietal and occipital region or in the mastoid process. Enlarged lymph node behind the ear? The cause may also be the pathology of the ear itself, but such cases are rare. Pathological microorganisms and toxins enter the lymph node through the lymph and, when there is a certain possibility of weakening the immune system, they begin to damage the structure of the lymph node itself. Most often, the lymph node behind the ear becomes inflamed. It is caused by opportunistic bacteria, anaerobes and intracellular parasites. These include:
- staph;
- pale treponema, which is also the causative agent of syphilis;
- streptococcus;
- chlamydia;
- mycobacterium tuberculosis;
- francisella, which is the causative agent of tularemia;
- aspergillus;
- E. coli;
- clostridia.
Disturbances that can cause isolated inflammation of the lymph node behind the ear:
- cat scratches on the crown and temples;
- wounds, abrasions, pimples, infected scratches in the same areas;
- otitis externa and otitis media;
- mastoiditis;
- tularemia;
- tick-borne encephalitis that occurs when bitten in these areas;
- tumor metastases;
- lymphogranulomatosis;
- tuberculosis;
- actinomycosis of the scalp;
- syphilis (in rare cases).
Other reasons
Very often, when the lymph node behind the ear becomes inflamed, this may indicate a certain lesion of the lymphatic system, which is observed in the following pathologies:
- rubella;
- measles;
- HIV infection;
- malignant tumor (lymphoma);
- adenoviral infection;
- infectious mononucleosis.
Clinical picture of lymphadenitis
If the lymph node behind the ear hurts, what does it mean? Lymphadenitis is a certain inflammatory process and it follows, as a rule, a violation and a change in the structure of the lymph node.
Any process of this nature is accompanied by specific signs.
- Puffiness - in this case, an increase in lymph nodes is formed. The skin behind the ear is usually very thin, and it is stretched over the hard structures of the skull - the tendons as well as the bones. Puffiness is formed in a limited area,which is always accompanied by an increase in the size of the lymph node. One or more small tubercles appear in the space behind the ear, the size of which, as well as the structure, depend on what type of inflammation occurs in each case.
- Hyperemia. In the area of inflammation of the lymph nodes behind the ear, the blood vessels expand and the process of arterial blood stagnation begins. Visually, this may look like redness of the skin at the site of an enlarged lymph node.
- Fever. Active cellular processes, which are accompanied by increased blood flow to the area of inflammation, lead to a sensation of heat, as well as a local violation of heat transfer.
- Sickness. It can occur due to the pressure of edema on sensitive nerve receptors that are located in the skin and tendons. Their sensitivity greatly increases when exposed to biologically active substances released by destroyed cells. Such pain is usually throbbing in nature. When the process of pain subsides, discomfort is observed only during touching the lymph node.
- When the lymph node behind the ear becomes inflamed, dysfunction occurs. This situation can become a factor that provokes lymph retention in the tissues, which causes them to swell and swell.
Disease classification
The source of infection in the lymph nodes differs:
- odontogenic pathway - from the mouth and teeth;
- rhinogenic - fromnose;
- tonsilogenic - from the nasopharynx and throat;
- dermatogenic - associated with damage to the skin in the temples or crown;
- otogenic - from the ear.
It is possible only in some cases to determine the source of infection with an inflamed lymph node behind the ear, and such information is extremely important for organizing subsequent therapeutic procedures.
According to the characteristics of the course, the disease can be of several types.
Spicy:
- Serous-purulent - when a slightly painful "ball" with a diameter of up to 1-2 cm appears under the skin behind the ear - a lymph node. It has a soft elastic consistency, and the skin around it may have a normal color or slight redness. The lymph node is mobile, not soldered to nearby tissues.
- Purulent - a limited cavity is formed, which is filled with pus (abscess). The general condition of the patient is not disturbed, and the lymph node itself can be moderately painful. The skin above it is red, and the adjacent tissues swell strongly. At the beginning of such a process, the lymph node can be mobile, after which the process of soldering it with tissues begins, as a result of which its mobility is disturbed.
- Adenophlegmon - is formed when pus is released from the capsule of the lymph node into nearby tissues. The patient's condition deteriorates sharply - the body temperature rises, there is a feeling of chills and aches in the muscles and pain in the joints, severe weakness. The pain becomes even more throbbing and intense. In the area of tissues behind the ear, in most cases, a dense infiltrate is palpated, nothaving clear boundaries.
Chronic:
- Productive - when initially there is a slight increase in the lymph node, which continues to grow gradually over several months. The course of this process can be both undulating and in the form of alternating stages of exacerbation and remission, however, the size of the node does not reach normal values. Pain may be mild or absent altogether. The skin over the node remains within the normal range, it does not solder with the underlying tissues. The lymph node, as a rule, retains its mobility.
- Abscessing - when an acute form of lymphadenitis develops. In the body of an enlarged lymph node, the formation of a limited cavity begins, which is filled with pus and an abscess develops. The lymph node becomes very painful, and its consistency is dense. It begins to gradually grow together with the underlying tissues and lose mobility. Such an inflammatory process leads to a sharp deterioration in well-being, as it becomes the cause of acute intoxication of the body.
In children
In children, most often the lymph nodes are greatly enlarged against the background of viral infections. Measles and rubella may be accompanied by a characteristic rash. Adenovirus infection may be accompanied by conjunctivitis and sore throat. In cases of infectious mononucleosis, the causative agent of which is the Epstein-Barr virus, the formation of edema of all groups of lymph nodes may begin, and there is also an increase in the liver and spleen. What else can cause the appearancean enlarged lymph node behind the ear?
Other forms of the disease
Specific forms of lymphadenitis cause specific pathogens. Their names are determined by the specificity of clinical manifestations:
- tuberculous;
- actinomycotic;
- bubo for tularemia.
When the lymph node behind the ear hurts, complex treatment is required.
Treatment of lymphadenitis behind the ear
Doctors of different specializations can treat such a disease, depending on which cause of the disease occurs in each individual case.
Since the inflammation of the lymph nodes is the result of a variety of infections, it is first necessary to eliminate the source of the pathology itself. For this purpose, treatment is carried out with such means as broad-spectrum antibiotics from the group of cephalosporins or sulfonamides.
In case of inflammation of the lymph node behind the ear, what should I do?
Medicines
Additional drugs that can normalize the functioning of the immune system are:
- antihistamines that can reduce inflammation and help subside chronic foci of inflammation;
- immunomodulators - medicines that also help the immune system fight infectious agents;
- Vitamins – Patients need high doses of vitamin C as it plays a very important role in shaping immune cell activity.
Physiotherapy
Local infor the treatment of lymph nodes behind the ear, it is possible to carry out physiotherapy procedures:
- Electrophoresis using proteolytic enzymes.
- Influence on areas of inflammation with ultra-high frequencies of electric current.
- Irradiation with helium-neon lasers.
Physiotherapy is used, as a rule, in acute forms of serous and chronic inflammation in enlarged lymph nodes behind the ear.
