Despite the widespread stereotype that swollen lymph nodes is a sign of a serious disease, their increase does not mean a quick death. Why are lymph nodes inflamed and how to treat them?
Where are the lymph nodes, their role in the human body
Lymph nodes are a collection of many lymphatic vessels in one place along which lymph circulates in the body. This fluid contains red blood cells and lymphocytes, and its job is to remove toxins, dead blood cells, viruses, and other unwanted substances from the body's cells.
Thus, the lymph nodes became a kind of filtering stations of the body, on which not only lymphocytes are produced, but also viruses and bacteria are destroyed.
You can find them on the neck, groin and armpits. Cervical glands are divided by their location on:
- chin;
- frontal;
- aural;
- posterior cervix;
- submandibular;
- occipital.
Cervical lymph nodes are the size of a bean. When a person is healthy, they are soft and there is no pain when they are pressed, and when inflammation occurs, swelling and pain appear.
Lymph nodes are an important part of the entire lymphatic system, and that in turn is immune. As soon as a virus enters the bloodstream, the lymph carries it through the vessels to the nodes, they signal the immune system that a health hazard has arisen and it begins its work. It is difficult to underestimate the role of these glands in the body.
Causes of inflammation of the cervical lymph nodes
Inflammation of the cervical lymph nodes has its own name - cervical lymphadenitis (inflammation of the lymph) and can become an independent disease or a symptom of another disease. Lymph nodes inflame at the same time everywhere with lymphadenitis, but for small infections only some of them most often swell.
Usually, their inflammation speaks of an infection that has entered the body from the nasopharynx, moreover, by the inflammation of a particular node, you can determine the specific site of infection:
- oral cavity and face - submandibular lymph nodes inflamed;
- nasopharyngeal - swallowed up;
- skin diseases, suppurations, scratches, boils - this is the cause of inflammation of the parotid surface nodes.
Why can lymph nodes in the neck be inflamed? Causes of cervical lymphadenitis can be different factors:
- connective tissue diseases;
- fungal, bacterial, parasitic, viral and other infections (ARVI, flu, chickenpox, sore throat, gingivitis, otitis, rubella, stomatitis);
- thyroid disease;
- serious impairment of the immune system (HIV, tuberculosis, cancer);
- mechanical damage to the lymph nodes;
- allergic reactions;
- chronic alcoholism;
- metabolic disorders.
If the lymph nodes begin to swell and other painful symptoms appear, it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor as the body begins to signal that it has problems.
Symptoms of inflammation
Sometimes the lymph nodes may swell without additional symptoms. This usually occurs immediately after a long illness of the upper respiratory tract, when the immune system is still weak and reacts to any suspicious cell.
If the alarm was false, they also quickly return to their previous form. But in cases of the onset of an infectious or any other disease, inflammation of the glands is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- body temperature rises sharply;
- the glands swell, become hard and painful;
- sore throat when swallowing;
- chills;
- loss of appetite;
- redness of the skin in the area of the glands;
- general weakness and apathy;
- headache.
With respiratory or other disease, its symptoms become predominant, and the inflammation of the lymph nodes becomes only one of them. With prolonged inflammation without additional symptoms, you should immediately go to the hospital, as this may indicate a cancer disease.
Who to ask for help with inflammation of the lymph nodes?
Sometimes people have a dilemma about which doctor will ask for help with lymphadenitis. After all, it can be treated by a therapist, a surgeon, and an immunologist. So, what kind of doctor treats the lymph nodes in the neck?
After that, depending on the causes of the disease, the patient is referred to a more specific specialist: a dentist, a surgeon, an immunologist, an ENT specialist, or an oncologist. To make diagnoses yourself and go to a highly specialized doctor without a preliminary diagnosis is not worth it.
How to treat swollen lymph nodes in the neck of an adult
Regardless of the cause of lymphadenitis, it is recommended to adhere to bed rest, take medications prescribed by a doctor and vitamins, constantly drink warm drinks. After determining the exact diagnosis, the doctor may prescribe:
- ultrahigh-frequency therapy (UHF-therapy), which affects the body by electromagnetic fields at ultrahigh frequencies;
- surgery for purulent inflammation;
- drug treatment.
As a medication, anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics are usually prescribed, which should stimulate the immune system and help the body fight infection:
- Medrol;
- "Prednisolone";
- "Ciflox";
- "Septrin";
- "Amoksilav".
When prescribing antibiotics, multivitamins and drugs that relieve the hepatic load are additionally prescribed. Additionally, medications can be prescribed that will directly treat the cause of inflammation and infection. Therefore, self-medication is not safe and effective.
How to treat inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck folk remedies
Along with prescribed medicines and physiotherapy, traditional medicine can be used to help the body cope with the infection. To do this, you can:
- drink herbal tinctures: lavender, blueberry, currant, raspberry, elderberry and wormwood;
- use a decoction of chicory, tincture of echinacea;
- make compresses of celandine or just a towel soaked in warm water;
- take vitamin C;
- drink a decoction of walnut leaves or add it to the water when bathing;
- to make mint lotions on the lymph nodes;
- smear painful places with ichthyol ointment, camphor oil or Vishnevsky ointment;
- consume more vitamins;
- drink plenty of warm drink with honey and lemon.
Before using any means of traditional medicine or use of antibiotics, you should visit the doctor and find out the exact cause of the inflammation.
Lymph nodes in the neck of a child hurt - how to treat?
In children, cervical lymph nodes are inflamed much more often, especially at the age of 5-7 years, when the lymphatic system is still forming. They have much weaker immunity than in adults, and they are more susceptible to risk factors (hypothermia, drafts, etc.).
If you do not provide the right treatment in time, then lymphadenitis can become chronic and cause a lot of inconvenience.
Since resistance to painful viruses depends on immunity, it must be strengthened from an early age. Regular examination of children by the doctor can reveal in the early stages adenoids, carious teeth, tonsillitis and other diseases.
Often the glands swell in response to vaccination, and in this case, it is enough to observe the pediatrician. Since allergy can be another cause of lymphadenitis, it is worth checking the child for susceptibility to various foods, household chemicals and other possible allergens.
Examination and timely treatment in such cases will help strengthen the protection.
If a child has a swollen lymph node, it is strictly prohibited:
- warm it up;
- constantly palpate;
- be nervous for no reason.
It is necessary as soon as possible to turn to a pediatrician who can identify the cause and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
It is worth noting that sometimes, slightly enlarged lymph nodes - this is not a symptom and not a disease, but a physiological feature of the baby.
What not to do with lymphadenitis
Cervical lymph nodes are located close to the brain and in the case of improper treatment or inaction can lead to serious complications (meningitis and other serious diseases). Running lymphadenitis can develop into sepsis if the infection gets into the blood. Therefore, it is strictly prohibited:
- rub the knots;
- warm them;
- make iodine nets;
- sunbathe.
Consequences of late treatment of lymph nodes
In case of improper treatment, self-treatment and late treatment, serious complications of lymphadenitis can occur:
- An abscess is the formation of pus, its accumulation and spread. In this case, surgery is most often required - the surgeon opens the lymph node, cleans it and sews it up. If the pus is not removed on time, the disease can end lethal;
- Blood infection - infected cells enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body. Foci of inflammation begin to appear everywhere and lead to sepsis, which can lead to death. If the blood is already infected, the patient will need urgent hospitalization and intravenous antibiotics;
- Meningitis - due to the close location of the cervical lymph nodes, inflammation from them can very quickly go up and cause inflammation of the cerebral cortex. As a result, coordination of movement may be disturbed, problems with vision and hearing will appear. At an early age, meningitis leads to irreparable consequences, including deafness and impairment in the mental and physical development of the child.
Preventive measures
Certain prevention of cervical lymphadenitis is not, because this disease, which develops for many reasons, and to pay attention to any one area will not work.
Prevention will be:
- care of the immune system;
- timely treatment of acute infectious diseases and their prevention;
- avoiding drafts and hypothermia;
- regular hardening of the body;
- be careful and avoid microtraumas;
- take care of open wounds and prevent infection from getting into wounds;
- take care of personal hygiene.
It is always much easier to take care of the body and get treated in time, than to stop the serious consequences caused by carelessness and levity.
A little more additional information about lymph nodes inflamed on the neck - in the next video.
