The term "lymph node adenopathy" refers to a pathological condition characterized by a change in shape and an increase in the size of one or immediately a whole group of clusters that are part of the vascular system. In most cases, the disease does not occur on its own, but develops against the backdrop of an ailment, which is a provoking factor. With timely treatment, the prognosis is usually favorable. Ignoring the problem can lead to complications that pose a danger to the patient's life.
Development mechanism
The lymphatic system is similar in structure to the nervous and circulatory. Outwardly, it resembles the roots of trees. A feature of the lymphatic system is that it combines disparate organs into one whole. In addition, she is responsible for the removal of excess fluid, toxic compounds, pathogens from tissues. She also takes part in transporting vital substances and strengthening the immune system.
Lymph nodes are located throughout the body. Separate groups of clusters are localized in the axillary zones, neck, groin. At the same time, a slight increase in lymph nodes (less than 1 cm in diameter) is not an alarming sign. A similar situation can occur in a healthy person, which is associated with the occurrence of physiological processes in the body.
Under the influence of various adverse factors, a significant increase in lymph nodes can occur (1 cm in diameter or more). In this case, during palpation, it is possible to detect accumulations of altered size in only one zone or several at once. In the first case, it is customary to talk about localized adenopathy of the lymph nodes, in the second - about generalized.
The disease develops as follows: a small amount of plasma and pathogens that enter the body penetrate into the biological fluid circulating in clusters. At the same time, the lymph nodes must clear it of harmful compounds before it enters the central venous bed. Pathogens can infect clusters (as a rule, this occurs when the body's defenses are weakened) and remain in them, exercising their vital functions. At this time, the lymph nodes begin to increase in size, forming an immune response and trying to cope with foreign agents. Often, clusters become painful. The clinical picture directly depends on which area of the body is affected.
According to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), lymphadenopathy is assigned the code R59.
Causes
Pathology is rarely independent. Lymphadenopathy is a disease that most often develops against the background of other ailments that served as provoking factors.
The main causes of pathology:
- Various kinds of infections. Most often, stomatitis, pharyngitis, tooth abscess, HIV, tuberculosis, mononucleosis, toxoplasmosis, and STDs are the main disease in patients. Less commonly, the cause of infectious lymphadenopathy is cytomegalovirus, brucellosis, histoplasmosis, plague, tularemia, rat bite fever, paracoccidioidomycosis. In most cases, clusters located on the neck are affected, less often in the groin area above the collarbone. In the presence of HIV infection, lymph node adenopathy is generalized.
- Neoplasms. The disease develops against the background of leukemia, lymphoma, as well as with metastasis of tumors.
- Systemic pathologies: lupus erythematosus, sarcoidosis, Kawasaki disease.
- Taking certain medications. The use of medications, the active substances of which are allopurinol, atenolol, carbamazepine, quinidine, captopril, phenytoin, often leads to an increase in lymph nodes . Also, pathology develops while taking antibiotics that belong to the following groups: penicillins, cephalosporins, sulfonamides.
- In women, the cause of the disease is often the installation of silicone implants in the mammary glands.
The lymphatic system is directly involved in the formation of the immune response when various foreign agents enter the body. That is why its involvement in the pathological process can occur for many reasons, the main of which are inflammatory and infectious diseases, as well as various kinds of tumors.
Tuberculosis, oncological pathologies and HIV are illnesses that pose a danger to the patient's life. However, most often lymph node adenopathy is diagnosed in patients with less threatening conditions.
From the point of view of the mechanism of the development of the disease, the fact of what kind of provocative agent entered the body does not matter. This is due to the fact that the nature of changes in the structure of the node is always the same.
Symptoms
The clinical picture of the disease directly depends on its form, individual characteristics of the human body and the main pathology. In some cases, the defeat of even one node can have a stronger manifestation intensity than changes in a whole group of clusters.
There is such a thing as "reactive lymphadenopathy." This is a severe form of the disease, in which there is a significant deterioration in the patient's condition. He is worried about fever, chills, sweating, local hyperemia and soreness. If untreated, there is a violation of the integrity of the tissues of the affected lymph node. At the same time, inflammatory elements are carried throughout the body with a blood stream, provoking the development of sepsis of a generalized nature.
First of all, with lymphadenopathy, there is an increase in nodes in size. It is important to understand that their normal parameters for different parts of the body are different.
The clinical picture and the severity of the symptoms of inflammation of the lymph nodes in each case are different. They directly depend on the accumulation in which zone are involved in the pathological process. Types of Disease:
- Cervical lymphadenopathy. The most common form of ailment. The knot is well felt. It has a tuberous surface and a dense texture. The skin located directly above the knot blushes and stretches. The patient feels unwell, signs of an allergic reaction may occur. The nodes are painful. If they are filled with purulent contents, heat is added to the general symptoms of cervical lymphadenopathy. This zone contains several groups of nodes. Most often inflamed: parotid, occipital, submandibular. Adenopathy of the lymph nodes in the neck most often develops against the background of infectious diseases. Less commonly, it arises due to oncology and autoimmune pathologies.
- Axillary lymphadenopathy. The disease is accompanied by an increase in nodes, which immediately acquire a cone-shaped form. In addition, the following symptoms are noted in patients: general deterioration of well-being, excessive sweating (usually during night rest), a sharp decrease in body weight, fever, rashes on the skin, local redness, swelling in the area of accumulations. It is important to know that axillary lymph node adenopathy is a benign pathology in most cases. However, sometimes cancerous tumors are diagnosed in patients.
- Lymphadenopathy of the mediastinum. Most often develops after pneumonia. Common symptoms of adenopathy of the intrathoracic lymph nodes: pain, cough, shortness of breath, drooping upper eyelid, discomfort when passing food through the esophagus, fever, general weakness, headache, itching of the skin. The disease can be both benign and malignant.
- Retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy. A feature of this type of disease is the fact that enlarged lymph nodes cannot be detected by a superficial examination. To diagnose pathology, it is necessary to conduct an x-ray or ultrasound examination. Symptoms of abdominal lymph nodes adenopathy: excessive sweating, weakness, slight increase in body temperature, diarrhea. On palpation, the doctor discovers an increase in the size of the spleen and liver.
If symptoms of inflammation of the lymph nodes appear, consult a specialist as soon as possible. This is due to the fact that pathogenic microorganisms very quickly spread with the flow of biological fluid circulating in clusters.
Diagnostics
If you experience the first alarming signs indicating lymphadenopathy (axillary, cervical, mediastinal, etc.), you need to contact a therapist. If necessary, he will send for consultation to narrow specialists (infectious disease specialist, oncologist, surgeon, TB specialist, endocrinologist, urologist or gynecologist).
An important role in the diagnosis of lymph node adenopathy is the collection of anamnesis. The specialist must provide information on the symptoms and the severity of their symptoms, as well as talk about episodes of injuries, infectious diseases, as well as the nature of sexual activity. After that, the doctor conducts an examination, during which he evaluates the size, shape, density, soreness and localization of the affected node or group of clusters.
Based on the results of the initial diagnosis, the specialist draws up a referral for a comprehensive examination, including:
- Clinical and biochemical blood and urine tests.
- Wasserman test.
- Serological examination.
- HIV test.
- Ultrasound
- X-ray examination.
- CT, MRI.
If there is a suspicion of the malignant nature of the disease, a sample of the bone marrow biomaterial or node contents is collected for cytological and histological studies.
Conservative Therapies
The volume of treatment measures depends on the age of the patient, the form of the disease, the severity of the patient's condition. The choice of tactics for the treatment of lymph node adenopathy is carried out after the identification of the main pathology, which served as a provoking factor.
In case of damage to the clusters and surrounding tissues with an infection, antibacterial drugs are indicated. Before the degree of sensitivity of pathogens to certain substances is revealed, doctors prescribe antibiotics that belong to the group of cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones. As a rule, experts recommend taking Medaxon and Levofloxacin. The duration of treatment depends on the individual characteristics of the patient’s health and the severity of the disease.
Pathogens spread very quickly through the body through the lymph nodes. In this regard, local therapy of the disease should be treated with caution. All funds should be prescribed by a doctor, only he can assess the appropriateness of their use. In almost all cases, experts recommend using Vishnevsky ointment. The tool must be applied directly to the affected lymph node.
If during the biopsy it was found that the pathological process is malignant, the patient is prescribed a course of chemotherapy. The outcome of the disease in this case directly depends on the severity of the underlying ailment.
As an additional treatment, doctors prescribe immunostimulating agents. They are designed to strengthen the body's defenses during the fight against the disease. High efficiency in practice was shown by the drug "Glutoxim".
Surgical intervention
In most cases, treatment of adenopathy is done with medication. Performing surgical intervention is advisable only if the contents of the lymph nodes are represented by purulent fluid.
In such situations, an autopsy is carried out. It is carried out, as a rule, using a standard technique - an open operation. After gaining access, the surgeon removes the purulent contents, establishes a drainage system through which the discharge will occur, and sutures.
Folk methods
Using non-traditional methods does not eliminate the need to seek qualified medical help. The use of alternative methods is permissible, but only after obtaining the approval of the attending physician. This is due to the fact that in some cases, natural remedies can significantly worsen the course of the disease.
The most effective recipes:
- Chop the freshly picked dandelion grass. In the excreted juice, moisten a cotton swab and apply the latter directly to the affected lymph node. Lotions are allowed to be done up to 3 times a day.
- Mix in equal proportions nettle and yarrow. Combine these components and fill them with 500 ml of water. Put the container on fire. Boil for 20 minutes. Allow the broth to cool. Take the drug three times a day before meals.
- Mix 500 g of goose or badger fat with noric (a medicinal plant). The latter must take 6 tbsp. l The resulting ointment to treat the affected areas.
Features of the disease in children
Until the child reaches the age of 12, his lymphatic system is immature. At the same time, it begins to form even in the period of intrauterine development. It is because of the immaturity of the system among children that lymph node adenopathy is very often diagnosed.
In a newborn baby, the accumulations should not be palpated. Otherwise, it is customary to talk about their increase, and, therefore, about the presence of a pathological process.
The first 12 months of life are considered critical. In this regard, if any palpable formations are found, it is necessary to contact a pediatrician. At this age, inflammation of the clusters on the back of the head, in the groin and on the neck most often occurs. In a child, the cause of enlarged lymph nodes is most often infectious diseases. In addition, adenopathy often develops against the background of systemic pathologies and immunodeficiency. In isolated cases, the disease occurs with helminthic invasion and an allergic reaction. According to statistics, 10% of young patients are diagnosed with malignant tumors.
If the child has enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, the cause can also be an inflammatory process in the oral cavity, including banal teething. If after the first month of life, a generalized form of the disease is combined with dermatitis, fever, diarrhea and candidiasis, the doctor suggests the presence of immunodeficiency.
Forecast
The outcome of the pathology directly depends on the timeliness of contacting a specialist. Children under 12 years old in the presence of palpable formations should immediately show a pediatrician to exclude the presence of serious ailments. Adults also need to seek medical attention in a timely manner.
Lymphadenopathy itself is not dangerous; the underlying disease is a threat. It is important to know that the cause of the disease can be a malignant process, ignoring which leads to death.
Finally
Adenopathy of the lymph nodes is a pathology that is not an independent disease, but serves as a symptom of numerous ailments. If you experience the first alarming signs, you must consult a doctor who will draw up a referral for a comprehensive examination and based on its results will make the most effective treatment regimen.
As already mentioned, in the international classification of diseases (ICD-10) lymphadenopathy is assigned the code R59.