Many are interested in what it is - ganglionitis. This is a disease based on ganglion inflammation. This is the name of the nerve node, consisting of nerve cells, their bodies, axons and dendrites. Its shell is composed of connective tissue. In the event that two such nodes are inflamed at once, this condition is called polyganglionitis.
After identifying the symptoms, diagnosing and treating ganglionitis, they start using medications and undergoing physiotherapy.
Causes
The most common reason for the development of ganglionitis is the penetration of infection, as a result of which the inflammatory process begins. The source of infection is local inflammatory diseases of the nasopharynx:
- sinusitis, chronic rhinitis, pharyngitis;
- less commonly - arthritis of the temporomandibular joint.
Pterygopalatine ganglionitis can occur as a result of toxic effects on the nerve node in chronic tonsillitis, chronic suppurative otitis media. Factors contributing to the occurrence of pterygopalatine ganglionitis are lack of sleep, overwork, stressful situations, alcohol intake, loud noise.
Symptoms
Often, the symptoms of ganglionitis depend on the specific cause of the disease. Despite this, there are several common manifestations that are found in many patients: burning pains and unpleasant itching. Often patients develop paresthesia - numbness and tingling on the skin in the area of the inflamed ganglion. If the inflammation is diagnosed as herpetic, vesicles appear on the skin, painful when touched. In the area of the spinous processes of the vertebrae, pain during palpation can also occur. The skin in the affected area changes its color and texture.
Ulcers
Ganglionitis is easily determined in the most difficult cases of the development of the disease, when ulcers appear on the affected area of the skin, and the internal organs lose their functionality due to damage to the nerve nodes. Muscles located in the area of inflammation also undergo degeneration. They are weakening, losing their tone. The joints lose their mobility, which is why the patient's reflexes are reduced. Often patients complain of heart problems and angina pectoris, but this is caused by inflammation in the region of the stellate node, which creates false secondary complaints.
Kinds
Ganglionitis is an inflammatory process that occurs in the ganglion. The etiology of the occurrence of this disease is quite extensive - from lesions in viral infections to post-traumatic inflammation.
Specific symptomatic differences of ganglionitis depend on the localization of the inflammatory process, while the common signs of this disease are: swelling of the affected area, itching, pain.
Considering the types of ganglionitis, you should focus on the following diagnostic features:
- With the localization of ganglionitis in the sternum and upper shoulder girdle, the so-called star-shaped node is affected. Symptoms and treatment of stellate ganglionitis are very diverse and often misleading when diagnosed. In this case, the patient may complain of heart pain, after a detailed examination, you can diagnose false angina pectoris.
- When the disease is localized in the area of the eyeball, the inflammation affects the Gasser node, with keratitis symptoms, photophobia, swelling in the eye area, and a rash. This type of ganglionitis can be the result of a herpes infection.
- Inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract, hearing aid and oral cavity (tonsillitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis, otitis media, pulpitis and caries) can provoke ganglionitis in the pterygo-palatine node located in one of the maxillary sinuses. This localization is characterized by soreness in almost all parts of the face and head (touching the ears, eye sockets, tip of the nose, temples is painful, sometimes the pain falls even in the region of the upper shoulder girdle).
- Ramsey-Hunt syndrome can be attributed to a separate type of ganglionitis, when the focus is localized in the region of the auricle. It is a consequence of herpetic infection. The symptoms of this type include ear pain, dizziness. It differs from the previous lesion of the pterygo-palatine node by the manifestation of facial paresis.
- Symptoms and treatment of cervical ganglionitis are determined by the doctor. As a rule, the disease is a consequence of cervical osteochondrosis, in addition, it can be caused by any of the infections or develop against the background of the clinical picture of tonsillitis. Pain in this form is localized in the region of the shoulder girdle, occipital part of the head. In addition, redness of the face, eyes, asymmetrical appearance of wrinkles on one side of the face, and difficulty breathing due to nasal congestion can be additional symptoms of ganglionitis of the cervical ganglion.
- Pain directly in the tongue, which at the same time passes into the jaw and further into the region of the temples, neck and neck, are symptoms of ganglionitis of the pterygo-palatine node. Treatment and additional diagnostics in this case are prescribed by a specialized specialist. In addition, salivation increases, the soft tissues of the tongue become hypersensitive, it is painful for the patient to move his jaws.
- Ciliary ganglion ganglionitis (or Oppenheim syndrome) develops against the background of herpes infection or as a result of chronic untreated sinusitis. The characteristic symptomatology for this lesion is expressed in lacrimation, localization of pain in the region of the orbits and temples.
- There is also herpetic ganglionitis (symptoms and treatment will be determined by a specialist). It should be noted a characteristic rash and pain along the nerve endings of the spine.
Diagnostics
The diagnosis of the disease is based on the collection of complaints, medical history, clinical manifestations, instrumental diagnostics.
Patient complaints are diverse and depend on the location of the inflammation. Most often, acute paroxysmal pain, swelling and itching of the affected area, fever, excessive sweating, weakness, loss of strength, limitation of movement in the joints are disturbing.
A survey of the history of the disease will help establish the cause and begin timely and correct treatment. Objectively assesses the patient’s body temperature, skin and mucous membranes, make a thorough examination of the affected area.
On palpation of the projection points of the node, soreness, a violation of sensitivity are detected. There are no specific tests that can accurately diagnose ganglionitis.
Related diseases
The disease must be differentiated with meningoradiculitis, neuritis, syringomyelia, neurovascular syndromes. For this purpose, the patient is referred for consultation to a neurologist, ENT doctor and dentist. As instrumental methods of research, pharyngoscopy (examination of the pharynx) and otoscopy (examination of the ear) are used. It is possible to carry out X-ray diagnostics.
After the final identification of the symptoms of stellate ganglionitis, treatment is prescribed immediately.
Treatment
Many patients are interested in how to treat ganglionitis. Symptoms and treatment of the disease will depend directly on the degree and severity, localization of the inflammatory process. Widely used drug treatment, physiotherapy, less often surgical.
Drugs
As already mentioned, the symptoms and treatment of ganglionitis (photos of people suffering from this unpleasant ailment are presented in the article) depend on the type of disease. Therapy is purely individual. But it will all come down to physiotherapy and medication. For the operation, certain actions are needed, each doctor decides this question based on the individual characteristics of each.
To cure this ailment, you have to go through a certain course of drugs. Namely:
- Reception of "Interferon". The body needs antibacterial and antiviral support.
- Treatment with drugs with desensitizing properties. These include "Diazolin", "Tavegil", "Ketotifen."
- Also, the course of treatment involves taking analgesics ("Analgin", "Indomethacin", "Diclofenac").
- Ganglion blockers will be required. For example, "Gangleron" or "Pentalgin."
- The use of vasodilators (Nikoshpan, Tionikol, Papaverin) will not be superfluous.
- At some stages, antihypoxants will be required: "Aevit", "Sodium oxybuterate."
- For better metabolism in tissues and activation of reparative-regenerative processes, Pentoxyl or Petiluratsil are suitable. The use of immunomodulators is vital.
Physiotherapy
Any physiotherapy will be aimed at solving a whole range of problems. With ganglionitis, you must first stop the pain syndrome. Methods used are anesthetizing. It is necessary to solve the problem of intoxication and inflammation. Antimicrobial and antiviral therapy will help here. With inflammatory processes, an antiexudative method of physiotherapy will help. Emerging allergic reactions will be removed in any way possible. In order to normalize all the functions of the peripheral nervous system, they will resort to a method when all free nerve endings will irritate. From dystrophy, the trophostimulating method is used. For the correction of immune dysfunction, immunostimulating physiotherapy will be chosen.
Spa treatment
Sometimes patients are sent just to relax in a sanatorium. This is done at the time of the final period, when the disease is particularly acute. It is carried out only in the complete absence of severe disorders of the nervous system and pain. Resorts will suit absolutely any. It doesn't matter, mud baths or a rocky beach. Only the process is important, in which a person will give a rest to the nervous system of the body, will put himself in order. It is worth noting that this happens best by the sea due to the salty air.
Prevention
The basis for the prevention of ganglionitis includes timely and proper treatment, preventing the development of viral diseases.
- You should lead a correct lifestyle and abandon bad habits, do not eat a lot of fatty and salty foods.
- Every day you need to play sports. Morning runs will not be superfluous.
- It hardens the immune system well, but do not immediately pour ice water on it. You need to start gradually with light bathing in the bath, rubbing your limbs with a cold and wet towel, and then you can smoothly move on to bathing in the fresh air, but first only in the warm season.
- Do not forget about the hat in the cold season. After all, no hairstyle can be more expensive than your own health, and without a hat in the winter you can get sick with more serious diseases.
- To prevent the disease, especially in spring and autumn, it is necessary to strengthen the immune system with vitamins, eat more fruits and vegetables.
It is also important to vaccinate in advance, it will provide the body with stable immunity to this disease. During an outbreak, a special protective mask should be worn.