Enlarged lymph nodes, popularly known as language and scientifically known as lymph nodes or enlarged lymph nodes, indicate, in most cases, an infection or inflammation of the area in which they occur, although they can occur for a variety of reasons, from simple skin irritation, infection, immune diseases, drug use or even cancer.
The enlargement of the lymph nodes can be of two types: localized, when the swollen nodes are near the site of infection, or widespread, when it is a systemic disease or infection that lasts a long time.
- Lymph nodes are distributed throughout the body because they are part of the lymphatic system.
- An important part of the immune system.
- Because they filter the blood and help eliminate harmful microorganisms.
- However.
- When enlarged.
- They are commonly visible or palpable in specific areas.
- Such as the groin.
- Armpits.
- And neck.
- To better understand the function of the lymph nodes and where they are located.
In general, the waters usually have benign and transient causes, and usually have a diameter of a few millimeters, disappearing over a period of about 3 to 30 days. However, if they are more than 2.25 cm tall, last more than 30 days, or are accompanied by symptoms such as weight loss and constant fever, it is important to consult a family doctor or infectious disease to investigate possible causes and recommend treatment. .
Inflammation of the lymph nodes can occur as a result of an acute or chronic infection, a tumor, an autoimmune disease, or that compromises the immune system, such as AIDS.
The causes of lymph node enlargement are diverse and it should be remembered that there is no single rule for identification, however, some possible causes are:
The lymph nodes of the cervical region, but also those located under the jaw, behind the ears and neck, are usually enlarged due to changes in the airways and head area, such as:
In addition, systemic infectious diseases such as rubella, dengue or Zika virus can also manifest as an enlarged lymph node in the neck. Learn more about water-causing diseases in your neck.
The groin is the most common place where enlarged lymph nodes appear, as lymph nodes in this area can indicate the involvement of any part of the pelvis and lower extremities, and this occurs mainly due to cancer and infections:
In addition, because this set of lymph nodes is located near an area where inflammations, small cuts or infections often occur, it is common for water to be noticed, even without symptoms.
The axillary lymph nodes are responsible for draining all lymphatic circulation of the arm, chest wall, and breast, so when enlarged they may indicate:
The armpit area is also very sensitive to irritation of deodorant or depilatory products, or cuts due to the use of hair removal, which can also cause an enlarged lymph nodes.
Other regions may also have enlarged lymph nodes, but they are less common. An example is the region above the collarbone, or supraclavicular, because it is not a common site for the appearance of enlarged nodes. In the anterior area of the arm, this may indicate forearm and hand infections, or diseases such as lymphoma, sarcoidosis, tularemia, secondary syphilis.
Some situations can cause the lymph node to enlarge in different parts of the body, both in the most exposed areas and in the deepest areas, such as the abdomen or chest. This is usually caused by diseases that cause systemic or widespread disorders, such as HIV, tuberculosis, mononucleosis, cytomegalovirus, leptospirosis, syphilis, lupus or lymphoma, for example, in addition to the use of certain drugs, such as phenytoin.
Therefore, imaging and laboratory examinations, as well as consultation with the doctor, are required to ensure that the source of the alteration can be found and that treatment is established to reduce the size of swollen lymph nodes.
Swollen lymph nodes can be cancerous when they appear in the groin, groin, neck or spread to various parts of the body, have a hard consistency and do not go away after 30 days. In this case, you should see your doctor for tests and rule out all other possibilities. Your doctor may prescribe more specific tests such as ultrasound or CA 125, for example, if cancer is suspected during your first appointments. Fine needle aspiration biopsy is one of the tests that can be controlled when there is a liquid or liquid-solid cyst.
After the cancer diagnosis, your doctor will refer the person to the most appropriate health service and often the cancer can be cured with the right treatment and begin as soon as possible. Some types of tumors can be removed by surgery and treatment with radiation therapy or chemotherapy is not always necessary, and there are also modern drugs capable of completely eliminating malignant cells.
Use of drugs such as: allopurinol, cephalosporins, penicillin, sulfamides, atenolol, captopril, carbamazepine, phenytoin, pyrimethamine and quinidine.
The characteristics shown in the table are the most common, but not all may be present and only the doctor can diagnose a disease by indicating below the most appropriate treatment for each case.
In most cases, swollen tongues are harmless and do not pose a serious health problem, being caused only by viruses, which are spontaneously cured in 3 or 4 weeks, without requiring specific treatment.
Lymphadenopathy does not have a specific treatment, always targeting its cause. Medications such as antibiotics and corticosteroids should not be used without medical advice, as they may delay the diagnosis of serious illnesses.
Ganglion enlargement is often characterized by an elastic and mobile fibrous consistency, which measures a few millimeters and may or may not be painful, however, it may have some changes that indicate diseases of interest, such as lymphoma, ganglion tb or cancer. , and some are:
In these situations, the attention of a family doctor or infectious disease should be sought for clinical, ultrasound or tomographic examinations, as well as blood tests that evaluate infections or inflammations throughout the body.When doubt persists, it is also possible, to request a lymph node biopsy, which will show whether it has benign or malignant characteristics, and that the oncologist may be consulted to evaluate the signs and symptoms of the swollen ganglion.