Lymph nodes are biological filters that relate to the organs of the lymphatic system of the body. In the lymph nodes, lymph flows, which is formed from intercellular fluid and consists of a large number of lymphocytes.
These biological filters are part of our immune system, they hold back infections that enter the body, and the first ones react to their entry into the body.
Cervical lymph nodes are normal
Normally, cervical lymph nodes are rounded in diameter from 3 to 8 mm, submandibular - up to 1 cm. In the absence of pathologies, they are soft, mobile, and when pressed, they are not painful, not hot, not welded together.
We list the groups of lymph nodes of the neck and head. By name, their location becomes clear:
- lymph nodes of the submandibular region;
- submental lymph nodes;
- occipital;
- deep and superficial cervical;
- tonsillar lymph nodes;
- parotid and mastoid (behind the ear).
Causes of swollen lymph nodes
The consequence of an infectious process in the body can be increased sensitivity and an increase in lymph nodes in the neck. Doctors call this pathology cervical lymphadenitis. Nodes can react even before symptoms of the disease appear. 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 reason for these symptoms is that the body launched an immune response and began to fight the infection that most often occurs due to pathogens from the toxins that enter the bloodstream, such as streptococci and staphylococci. The first thing to find out is where the primary focus of infection is. Most often these are organs in the immediate vicinity of the lymph node.
- The increase in 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, purulent wounds, boils in the neck.
- Specific lymphadenitis develops due to syphilis, gonorrhea, and tuberculosis.
- Infection after biting or scratching from animals.
- Teething in children. Immunity during this period works in full force, therefore, a temporary increase in lymph nodes in the neck in a child is allowed. But do not worry, over time they will return to normal.
Symptoms of Lymphadenitis
The main symptoms of lymph node inflammation will be as follows:
- enlarged lymph nodes in size, fuzzy contours, adhesion of groups of lymph nodes;
- an increase in skin temperature on the surface of the lymph node;
- soreness of the inflamed lymph node, as well as pain when you touch it;
- swelling of the neck;
- signs of intoxication: temperature, weakness, body aches, loss of appetite.
Establishing diagnosis
To determine the cause of inflammation, when contacting a medical institution, the doctor will collect all the data about complaints, conduct an examination, and assess the general condition. Additional examination methods may be necessary to accurately determine the initial cause of inflammation and prescribe adequate treatment: a blood test, an x-ray of the node and adjacent organs, computed tomography, a test for tumor markers, and a biopsy.
If the lymph node has increased, but does not hurt - this is not a reason to stay inactive. An asymptomatic increase may be a sign of the onset of cancer.
Enlarged lymph node on the neck on one side
Inflammation can be in one or in several lymph nodes on the one hand. By the intensity of pain, 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, pain when pressing on the enlarged lymph node on one side of the ear, this may be a consequence of unilateral otitis media.
If the enlarged right lymph node on the neck either on the left or on both sides under the chin hurts, this can indicate purulent tonsillitis or inflammation of the tonsils.
Severe pain in the submaxillary often occurs due to caries, pulpitis, problems with the wisdom tooth.
Infectious mononucleosis can become the reason for the enlarged lymph node in the neck in a child from behind on the right. Also, posterior cervical enlargement 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 is bitten or scratched with immunity not yet fully developed, a disease called “cat scratch disease” may develop. The wound may not heal for a long time and in the place next to it, lymph nodes may increase. Inguinal and axillary lymph nodes may also increase.
Which specialists should be contacted
With an increase in lymph nodes on the neck in an adult, you should consult a therapist, and show the child 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 be prescribed the correct and adequate treatment. Below we list what to do with an increase in lymph nodes is not worth it:
- In no case should you self-medicate - the patient himself will not be able to accurately determine why the lymph nodes in the neck are enlarged. Often it is necessary to conduct additional comprehensive diagnostics to determine whether inflammation has occurred due to 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 caused not 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 can this be done, warming up can provoke a further spread of the infection to other organs and tissues. Also provoke edema and fever. Neither heating pads nor compresses are required for treatment.
- When 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 because of an 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);
- immunostimulatory, multivitamins.
Physiotherapy is sometimes prescribed, for example, UHF therapy, but only in cases where there is no infectious process, fever, tachycardia.
With oncological, autoimmune diseases, appropriate treatment will be carried out - chemotherapy, immunosuppressants.
It is necessary to observe bed rest, to avoid stress and physical overstrain, drafts and hypothermia. Follow drinking regimen, recommended food, sparing throat. With timely contact with a specialist and identifying the causes of an enlarged lymph node in the neck, with the right treatment, complete recovery occurs.
Lymphadenitis Complications
If lymphadenitis is advanced or complicated, surgery may be necessary. 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. Suppurative lymph nodes are sometimes removed and a histological examination is performed for the presence of oncology.
Also, the disease in rare cases today without appropriate treatment can be complicated by tissue necrosis, blood poisoning, fistula formation, thrombophlebitis of adjacent veins.
Features of lymphadenitis in children
The causes of enlarged lymph nodes in the neck in a child can be different. Most often they are associated with infectious diseases occurring in the body, a decrease in immunity, and tumor processes. As noted above, lymphadenitis in children can be associated with a teething period, mononucleosis, and 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 the increase in lymph nodes in children under 12 years of age is often associated with diseases of organs adjacent to them.
Purulent tonsillitis will entail an increase in lymph nodes in the neck, and 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 and pulpitis, submandibular lymph nodes become inflamed.
It happens that during an acute respiratory illness, the lymph node enlarges, but does not cause pain. This happens due to the imperfect immune system of the child, which primarily takes on the fight against infection and reacts strongly to it.
According to the famous pediatrician Yevgeny Olegovich Komarovsky, an increase in lymph nodes in the neck in a child is a common occurrence. Basically, this symptom indicates a natural reaction of the children'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.
Preventive measures
Prevention of enlarged lymph nodes in the neck in an adult and a child includes the following measures:
- The hardening of the body, a complete diverse diet, compliance with the regime of work and rest.
- Timely treatment of wounds and injuries of the skin with antiseptics, to prevent infection, suppuration, blood poisoning.
- Visit the dentist and treat carious teeth on time. Through the enamel destroyed by carious bacteria, the infection easily penetrates, soft tissues can be affected. Therefore, visiting the dentist 2 times a year is necessary for both children and adults.
- Preventive examination of the body.
- Timely treatment of tonsillitis, sinusitis, otitis media will prevent complications. It is important not to give up 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.
A timely visit to a doctor, diagnosis of the primary source of the disease, correctly selected treatment of enlarged lymph nodes in the neck will lead to recovery, and the use of preventive measures will not allow its recurrence.