Enlargement, inflammation of the lymph nodes can be an independent disease. Most often, this phenomenon indicates an active infection. Why does lymphadenopathy occur? What it is? What symptoms should I look for?
Lymphadenopathy - what is it?
Lymphadenopathy is a condition accompanied by a strong enlargement of the lymphatic vessels. A similar term is usually used by doctors in the diagnostic process to indicate the leading symptom of the disease.
Depending on the location and the number of affected nodes, it is customary to distinguish three main forms of such a pathology:
- Local lymphadenopathy is most common. A similar phenomenon is accompanied by an increase in only one node in a certain area.
- Regional lymphadenopathy is much less often diagnosed. What it is? In this condition, there is an increase in several nodes at once in one or two neighboring regions.
- In some infections, in particular HIV and toxoplasmosis, generalized lymphadenopathy is observed. What it is? This form is characterized by an increase in many nodes localized in more than three zones.
The main causes of lymphadenopathy
As you know, in the human body there are about 600 lymph nodes. The main function of the lymphatic system is to protect the body from infections - it is she who first responds to the penetration of pathogenic organisms or foreign bodies into the body.
Any infectious disease can be accompanied by swollen lymph nodes. Pathogens can be bacteria (tuberculosis, brucellosis, syphilis), viruses (HIV, cytomegalovirus, hepatitis), fungal microorganisms (actinomycosis, histoplasmosis) and even parasites (giardiasis, toxoplasmosis).
On the other hand, damage to the lymph nodes can be caused by taking certain medications. In particular, lymphadenopathy often occurs with the use of penicillin, quinidine, captopril, atenolol, cephalosporin.
In addition, its symptoms may indicate the presence of cancer. For example, abdominal lymphadenopathy is most often the result of metastasis of a malignant tumor.
Lymphadenopathy: symptoms and diagnostic methods
Lymphadenopathy can be acute. In such cases, there is a rapid increase in the lymph node, which is accompanied by swelling and redness of the skin, as well as soreness, which increases with palpation. The chronic form of lymphadenopathy is characterized by an erased clinical picture and the absence of discomfort in the area of the affected node.
Often, this condition is accompanied by fever, excessive sweating, which intensifies at night, as well as prolonged fever, enlarged spleen and liver.
A thorough diagnosis makes it possible not only to assess the degree of damage to the lymphatic system, but also to determine the cause of the enlargement of the lymph nodes. First, the patient must donate blood for analysis. In addition, if there is evidence, a chest x-ray or ultrasound of the abdomen and pelvic organs is performed. And retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy is quite clearly visible on CT.
Should lymphadenopathy be treated?
It is widely believed that enlarged nodes need to be heated with warm compresses or rubbed with alcohol. In fact, all these procedures are contraindicated until the doctor makes a final diagnosis, otherwise self-medication attempts can only worsen the situation. As for the treatment, the treatment is directed primarily to the treatment of the disease that caused the enlargement of the lymph nodes. Most often, lymphadenopathy goes away on its own as soon as the primary disease is eliminated.