Enlarged lymph nodes

Contents

What do enlarged lymph nodes mean?

Enlarged lymph nodes develop when a lymph gland swells and becomes inflamed.
Lymph nodes are small bean-shaped structures:

from lymphatic tissue,
covered by connective tissue.

The lymphatic system extends over the whole organism. That is why lymph nodes are localized throughout the body:

Neck
Abdominal area
Shoulders
Chest
lumbar region,
Knee

They are particularly numerous:

behind the collarbone,
in the armpit,
in the lumbar region.

Sometimes lymph node enlargement only lasts for a few days, but it can persist for months or years, depending on the condition you are suffering from.
The specialist who deals with this is the endocrinologist, but once the cause has been established, it is necessary to contact the doctor who deals with the disease in question.

Causes of lymph node enlargement

Normal lymph nodes are the size of a pea and you can only feel them under the skin when they grow big like a marble or bigger.

Usually, a simple infection (usually viral) such as a cold can cause lymph node enlargement.
However, bacterial and parasitic infections can also lead to lymph node swelling.

Infections that are common in children and adolescents include:

streptococcal infection in the throat;
ear infection;
tooth abscess;
infectious rash;
Measles;
inflammation of the parotid gland (parotitis);
Glandular fever (infectious mononucleosis).

Other types of infection:

fever after bite of an animal, tick bite (Lyme disease) or cat scratching;
Toxoplasmosis: an infection caused by parasites transmitted from animals to humans, mainly from infected cats or from the consumption of raw pork and sheep meat;
sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis;
Tuberculosis and infections caused by ingestion or inhalation of tubercle bacilli.

Diseases of the immune system:

infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS;
rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the synovial tissue in the joints;
lupus, a chronic inflammatory disease; Affected are:
- Lungs
- Heart
- Blood cells
- Nephritic
- Skin
- Joints.

Different types of tumors:

leukemia – a malignant tumo that arises in the bone marrow; it hits: blood cells, red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
Lymphoma – a tumor of the lymphoid tissue.
- Breast
- Liver
- Testicles,metastases of other tumors, especially of:
- Lung.

Rare causes

taking pharmaceuticals such as phenytoin, which is prescribed for some forms of seizures (epilepsy);
vaccination against some diseases such as malaria;
Sarcoidosis, a chronic disease that leads to nodule formation in:
- Lymphatic and salivary glands
- Lungs
- Liver
Kawasaki syndrome
Storage diseases:
- Gaucher disease
- Niemann-Pick disease
- Tangier disease

In general, lymph node enlargement develops much faster due to infectious diseases than one caused by tumors such as leukemia and lymphoma.
Stress and anxiety do not lead to swollen or inflamed lymph nodes.

Concomitant symptoms of enlarged lymph nodes

Usually, enlarged lymph nodes cause:

Ache
Numbness.

Other signs that may occur include:

Signs of infection on the upper respiratory tract, such as:
- Sore throat
- runny nose
- Fever
Enlarged lymph glands all over the body, which indicate :
- Infection such as mononucleosis
- AIDS
- Diseases of the immune system, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus
Reddened skin over the lymph nodes.
Joint swelling (for example, on the legs), indicating a blockage in the lymphatic system due to lymph node enlargement. This happens too deep under the skin to be palpated.
A very rapid growth of the lymph nodes, which become immovable and rough, can be an indication of a tumor.

Causes of enlarged inguinal lymph nodes

Pelvic lymph nodes can swell or become larger mainly due to injury and infection. The various factors that cause lymph node enlargement are listed below.

Infections. The most common causes of lymph node swelling in the groin region are:

Bacterial
Viral
Fungus-related,
parasitic infections.

They are mainly localized:

in the groin,
on the genitals,
on the feet,
on the legs.

Venereal diseases. Sexually transmitted diseases can lead to enlargement of the lymph nodes and be painful.
The most common diseases include:

Genital herpes
Syphilis
Chlamydia
Gonorrhoea
Wart

lesions. Wounds and traumas to the legs, groin or feet can also affect the lymph nodes.

Tumor. A tumor of the lymphatic system is called lymphoma and can affect the inguinal lymph nodes.
When lymphocytes change malignantly and begin to multiply rapidly, they can provoke malignant tumors that enlarge the lymph nodes.
All types of malignant tumors can metastasize to the lymph nodes, the most common are:

Colon tumor
Uterine tumor
Prostate tumor
Bladder tumor
Tumor of the mammary gland

Hydrocele. Hydroceles are fluid-filled sacs in the scrotum. They often develop in infants when the tube in which the testicles migrate into the scrotum does not close. This leads to fluid transfer from the abdomen to the scrotum and also causes swollen lymph nodes.

Inguinal hernia. Inguinal hernia is a passage of abdominal intestines through a weakened abdominal wall. In addition to lymph node swelling, common symptoms are:

Inguinal swelling
burning sensation
Abdominal pain
Weakness
Feeling of pressure in the affected area

Causes of enlarged lymph nodes on the ear

Lymph node swelling behind the ears may be related to an infection:

of the eyes,
of the upper respiratory tract,
of the scalp.

Ear infections can be another cause of lymph node enlargement in the ears and neck. Sometimes an injury to the lymph nodes can also cause swelling.

Lymph nodes may swell due to conditions such as:

Cold
Influenza.

These conditions can cause numerous lymph node swelling, most commonly:

laterocervical (on both sides of the neck),
under the jaw,
behind the ears.

Rubella is caused by the rubella virus and is characterized by a pink and red erythema that appears on the face and then spreads to:

Breast
Arms
Legs.

In addition to the skin spots, this viral infection can develop swollen and painful lymph nodes:

behind the ears,
in the neck,
at the base of the head.

Causes of enlarged lymph nodes at the back of the head

The occipital lymph glands or occipital lymph nodes (1-3 in number) are part of the lymphatic system. This system functions as a support unit of the immune system.

Swelling rarely occurs due to cancer.
Possible persons responsible for the swelling:

Sting
infected section,
Ringworm
Lice
seborrheic dermatitis,
bacterial, viral or fungal infection.

In these cases, it is necessary to observe the size of the lymph node.
It is very important to determine whether it is larger than a thumbtip and whether it continues to grow. A doctor should be consulted if the swelling persists for more than a month and is accompanied by:

Fever
night sweats.

Lymphoma

B cells, T cells and NK cells are types of lymphatic or lymphocytic cells found in the human body.
These cells have a protective role for the body against pathogens: viruses, bacteria, etc.
Lymphocytes produce antibodies that bind to abnormal microorganisms and cells.
This compound brings antigens to the surface, which are recognized by the lymphocytes, which then eliminate the complex of antibodies + microorganisms.
Lymphoma is a tumor of lymphoid cells. It occurs when the B, T and NK lymphocytes begin to divide (proliferate) in an uncontrolled manner.
These cells infect:
- occipital lymph nodes
- other organs of the body that form the lymphatic system (spleen, thymus, bone marrow)
The lymphocytes accumulate and form a tumor mass.
The cancer cells rarely metastasize from these lymph nodes to other body organs. However, they can easily migrate from the altered occipital lymph node to the two remaining lymph nodes.

Causes of enlargement of submandibular lymph nodes

Most common infections:

Colds
Sore throat
Streptococcal infection of the neck

These infections can lead to swelling of submandibular lymph glands in the mandibular area.

Other common infections:

Tooth abscess
Aphthae in the mouth
Enclosed tooth
Mumps
Ear infections (otitis)
Measles
Rubella
Skin infections
Chickenpox
Glandular fever (infectious mononucleosis)
infected wound in the jaw
Tonsillitis
Laryngitis
Gingivitis (inflammation of the gums)
Pharyngitis

Diseases of the immune system:

Rheumatoid arthritis
AIDS
Lupus affecting lungs, heart, kidneys, skin, joints, etc.
Leukaemia
Lymphoma
Thyroid tumor or other tumor types can lead to lymph node swelling on the neck.

Side effects: Sore throat and lymph gland enlargement under the lower jaw can be the result of side effects of some medicines, such as:

Phenytoin (prescribed for epileptic seizures)
Vaccines against malaria, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus and typhoid.

Goiter: a thyroid goiter is caused by iodine deficiency and can cause swelling of the thyroid gland in the throat.
The swelling is noticeable and the disease can be easily diagnosed.

Other diseases: Causes of lymph node swelling include:

Hyperthyroidism
Metabolic
Allergies and allergic reactions
Tumors
Infection of the mouth, head or throat