As you may know, the lymph nodes always react sharply to inflammatory processes that occur in the immediate vicinity of them. For example, do you know why the lymph node under the jaw can be enlarged? There may be several reasons for this. As a rule, pathological changes in the tonsils, head, neck, ears, eyes, and oral cavity act as a provoking factor. As you know, a running inflammatory process in these areas can go into lymphadenitis. In addition, soreness of the lymph nodes can be caused by tuberculosis and infectious mononucleosis.
Density
If you find that your lymph node is enlarged, first check its density (for this you need to gently feel it with your fingers). If the knot is soft enough, it is most likely an infection. Dense elastic tissue is a sign of a benign tumor. This is due to the fact that when a metastasis enters the lymph node, it becomes "connected" with the surrounding tissues. By the way, according to doctors, the larger the size of the node, the less likely it is that the tumor is the cause of the inflammation.
Lymphadenitis
If your lymph node is enlarged, but the pain does not bother you, most likely the reason lies in a long-standing disease or inflammatory process that proceeds in a latent form. It can also lead to chronic lymphadenitis. In this case, with any infection, you will suffer from acute pain.
Causes
Is your lymph node enlarged and also hurts? You can find your advantages in this. Do you know what causes pain? The lymph node is surrounded by a special capsule; when it is enlarged, it stretches, thereby signaling an infection that has entered the body. Therefore, all you need to do is to take a pain medication and consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Jaw cancer
Unfortunately, the situation when the lymph node in the jaw area is enlarged is often a prerequisite for leukemia. The main problem is that jaw cancer in the early stages is very difficult to identify. A malignant tumor can "mask" under ordinary stomatitis or gingivitis, misleading even experienced professionals. As accompanying symptoms should be called loose teeth and tightened gums. What other signs should I look for?
Symptomatology
So, jaw cancer can be diagnosed by swelling of the cheeks and general deformation of the face. At the same time, teeth that come in contact with the tumor may become numb. The lymph node on the right is often enlarged. The patient may complain of profuse lacrimation and pain in the temples. It should be noted that these symptoms very rarely occur simultaneously; the presence or absence of a particular sign depends primarily on the location of the tumor. Unfortunately, modern cancer treatment cannot be called quite effective: a complete cure occurs only in 20 cases out of 100. It is often very difficult to find out the cause of lymphadenitis. Most likely, the doctor will prescribe you an ultrasound examination and a biopsy.