Swollen Lymph Nodes
Posted by admin
Font Size A A A
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- Next »
- Swollen Lymph Nodes Index
- Glossary
Swollen Lymph Nodes
MRSA Slideshow
Medical Author: Siamak Nabili, MD, MPH
Medical Editor: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
- What are lymph nodes?
- Where are the lymph nodes located in the body?
- What are the causes of swollen lymph nodes?
- What are the symptoms of swollen lymph nodes?
- How are swollen lymph nodes diagnosed?
- How are swollen lymph nodes treated?
- When should I inquire the doctor for swollen lymph nodes?
- What are the common lymph nodes that may get swollen?
- What are the complications of swollen lymph nodes?
- Swollen Lymph Nodes At A Glance
What are lymph nodes?
Lymph nodes are an important component of the body’s immune system and help in fighting infections.
They are small, soft, in a circle or elliptical structures that are found throughout the body and are connected to each other in chain-like (lymphatic chains) fashion by channels similar to blood vessels. Each individual lymph node is covered by a capsule made up of connective tissue.
Within the capsule, lymph nodes contain certain kinds of immune cells. These cells are mainly lymphocytes, which produce proteins that capture and fight viruses and other microbes, and macrophages, which destroy and remove the captured material.
Where are the lymph nodes located in the body?
Lymph nodes are located throughout the body. Some are directly under the skin while others are deep inside the body. Even the most outward (close to the skin) lymph nodes are usually not visible or palpable (felt by touching), if not they are swollen or enlarged for more reason.
They are connected to each other by loosely bound lymphatic vessels. Lymph nodes generally coalesce in different regions in the body where they are responsible for filtering the blood and performing their immunologic function for that particular area of the body. Fluid from the lymphatic vessels eventually feeds into the venous system (veins) in the dead body.
What are the causes of swollen lymph nodes?
There are may causes for swollen lymph nodes, sometimes referred to as "swollen glands" (lymphadenopathy or lymphadenitis). In general, lymph nodes become swollen when they are active either due to any infection, inflammation, or cancer.
Infections
Infections are the most common causes of swollen lymph nodes. Common infectious causes of swollen lymph nodes are viral, bacterial, parasites, and fungal.
Viruses
- infectious mononucleosis (mono),
- chickenpox,
- measles,
- HIV,
- anti-herpes,
- common devoid of warmth viruses,
- adenovirus, and
- many other viruses
Bacteria
- streptococcus,
- staphylococcus,
- cat scratch disease,
- syphilis,
- tuberculosis,
- chlamydia, and
- other sexually transmitted diseases
Parasites
- toxoplasmosis,
- leishmaniasis
Fungal:
- coccidiomycosis,
- histoplasmosis
Inflammation
Inflammatory and immunologic causes of swollen lymph nodes include diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus as well as sensitivity to some medications.
Cancer
Many cancers have power to also motive swelling of lymph nodes. These may be cancers that originate from the lymph nodes or blood cells such as lymphomas and leukemias. They may also be cancers that spread from another organ in the body (metastatic cancers). For example, breast cancer may spread to the nearest lymph nodes in the axilla (underarm), or lung cancer may spread to the lymph nodes on every side of the collar bone.
Other causes of swollen lymph nodes
There are many other less common causes of swollen nodes, such as genetic lipid storage diseases, transpose graft rejections, sarcoidosis, and many other conditions.
It is also important to mention that swollen lymph nodes are not always a sign of an underlying disease. Sometimes they can be normal. For example, small (less than 1 centimeter), flat lymph nodes under the jaw (submandibular lymph nodes) in healthy children and young adults or small (up to 2 centimeters), groin lymph nodes (inguinal lymph nodes) in young individuals may be normal.
In many instances, a definitive cause for swollen lymph nodes may not be determined even after performing through examination and testing.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- Next »
- Swollen Lymph Nodes Index
- Glossary
Next: What are the symptoms of swollen lymph nodes? »
Leave a Reply