Swollen lymph nodes – Symptoms & causes

Overview

Swollen lymph nodes usually occur as a result of infection from bacteria or viruses. Rarely, swollen lymph nodes are caused by cancer.

Your lymph nodes, also called lymph glands, play a vital role in your body’s ability to fight off infections. They function as filters, trapping viruses, bacteria and other causes of illnesses before they can infect other parts of your body. Common areas where you might notice swollen lymph nodes include your neck, under your chin, in your armpits and in your groin.

Lymph node locations

Your lymph nodes play a vital role in your body’s ability to fight off infections. Common areas where you might notice swollen lymph nodes include your neck, under your chin, in your armpits and in your groin.

Swollen lymph nodes

One of the most common places to find swollen lymph nodes is in the neck. The inset shows three swollen lymph nodes below the lower jaw.

In some cases, the passage of time and warm compresses may be all you need to treat swollen lymph nodes. If an infection causes swollen lymph nodes, treatment depends on the cause.

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Symptoms

Your lymphatic system is a network of organs, vessels and lymph nodes situated throughout your body. Many lymph nodes are located in your head and neck region. Lymph nodes that frequently swell are in this area, as well as in your armpits and groin area.

Swollen lymph nodes are a sign that something is wrong somewhere in your body. When your lymph nodes first swell, you might notice:

• Tenderness and pain in the lymph nodes
• Swelling that may be the size of a pea or kidney bean, or even larger in the lymph nodes

Depending on the cause of your swollen lymph nodes, other signs and symptoms you might have include:

• Runny nose, sore throat, fever and other indications of an upper respiratory infection
• General swelling of lymph nodes throughout your body. When this occurs, it may indicate an infection, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or mononucleosis, or an immune system disorder, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis
• Hard, fixed, rapidly growing nodes, indicating a possible cancer or lymphoma
• Fever
• Night sweats

When to see a doctor

Some swollen lymph nodes return to normal when the underlying condition, such as a minor infection, gets better. See your doctor if you’re concerned or if your swollen lymph nodes:

• Have appeared for no apparent reason
• Continue to enlarge or have been present for two to four weeks
• Feel hard or rubbery, or don’t move when you push on them
• Are accompanied by persistent fever, night sweats or unexplained weight loss

Seek immediate medical care if you’re having difficulty swallowing or breathing.

Causes

Lymph nodes are small, round or bean-shaped clusters of cells. Inside lymph nodes are a combination of different types of immune system cells. These specialized cells filter your lymphatic fluid as it travels through your body and protect you by destroying invaders.

Lymph nodes are located in groups, and each group drains a specific area of your body. You may be more likely to notice swelling in certain areas, such as in the lymph nodes in your neck, under your chin, in your armpits and in your groin. The site of the swollen lymph nodes may help identify the underlying cause.

The most common cause of swollen lymph nodes is an infection, particularly a viral infection, such as the common cold. Other possible causes of swollen lymph nodes include:

Common infections

• Strep throat
• Measles
• Ear infections
• Infected (abscessed) tooth
• Mononucleosis
• Skin or wound infections, such as cellulitis
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) — the virus that causes AIDS

Uncommon infections

• Tuberculosis
• Certain sexually transmitted infections, such as syphilis
• Toxoplasmosis — a parasitic infection resulting from contact with the feces of an infected cat or eating undercooked meat
• Cat scratch fever — a bacterial infection from a cat scratch or bite

Immune system disorders

• Lupus — a chronic inflammatory disease that targets your joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, heart and lungs
• Rheumatoid arthritis — a chronic inflammatory disease targeting the tissue that lines your joints (synovium)

Cancers

• Lymphoma — cancer that originates in your lymphatic system
• Leukemia — cancer of your body’s blood-forming tissue, including your bone marrow and lymphatic system
• Other cancers that have spread (metastasized) to lymph nodes

Other possible but rare causes include certain medications, such as the anti-seizure medication phenytoin (Dilantin) and preventive medications for malaria.

Complications

If infection is the cause of your swollen lymph nodes and isn’t treated, an abscess may form. Abscesses are localized collections of pus caused by infections. Pus contains fluid, white blood cells, dead tissue, and bacteria or other invaders. An abscess may require drainage and antibiotic treatment.

Swollen lymph nodes – Symptoms & causes

Overview

Swollen lymph nodes usually occur as a result of infection from bacteria or viruses. Rarely, swollen lymph nodes are caused by cancer.

Your lymph nodes, also called lymph glands, play a vital role in your body’s ability to fight off infections. They function as filters, trapping viruses, bacteria and other causes of illnesses before they can infect other parts of your body. Common areas where you might notice swollen lymph nodes include your neck, under your chin, in your armpits and in your groin.

Lymph node locations

Your lymph nodes play a vital role in your body’s ability to fight off infections. Common areas where you might notice swollen lymph nodes include your neck, under your chin, in your armpits and in your groin.

Swollen lymph nodes

One of the most common places to find swollen lymph nodes is in the neck. The inset shows three swollen lymph nodes below the lower jaw.

In some cases, the passage of time and warm compresses may be all you need to treat swollen lymph nodes. If an infection causes swollen lymph nodes, treatment depends on the cause.

Products & Services

Symptoms

Your lymphatic system is a network of organs, vessels and lymph nodes situated throughout your body. Many lymph nodes are located in your head and neck region. Lymph nodes that frequently swell are in this area, as well as in your armpits and groin area.

Swollen lymph nodes are a sign that something is wrong somewhere in your body. When your lymph nodes first swell, you might notice:

• Tenderness and pain in the lymph nodes
• Swelling that may be the size of a pea or kidney bean, or even larger in the lymph nodes

Depending on the cause of your swollen lymph nodes, other signs and symptoms you might have include:

• Runny nose, sore throat, fever and other indications of an upper respiratory infection
• General swelling of lymph nodes throughout your body. When this occurs, it may indicate an infection, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or mononucleosis, or an immune system disorder, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis
• Hard, fixed, rapidly growing nodes, indicating a possible cancer or lymphoma
• Fever
• Night sweats

When to see a doctor

Some swollen lymph nodes return to normal when the underlying condition, such as a minor infection, gets better. See your doctor if you’re concerned or if your swollen lymph nodes:

• Have appeared for no apparent reason
• Continue to enlarge or have been present for two to four weeks
• Feel hard or rubbery, or don’t move when you push on them
• Are accompanied by persistent fever, night sweats or unexplained weight loss

Seek immediate medical care if you’re having difficulty swallowing or breathing.

Causes

Lymph nodes are small, round or bean-shaped clusters of cells. Inside lymph nodes are a combination of different types of immune system cells. These specialized cells filter your lymphatic fluid as it travels through your body and protect you by destroying invaders.

Lymph nodes are located in groups, and each group drains a specific area of your body. You may be more likely to notice swelling in certain areas, such as in the lymph nodes in your neck, under your chin, in your armpits and in your groin. The site of the swollen lymph nodes may help identify the underlying cause.

The most common cause of swollen lymph nodes is an infection, particularly a viral infection, such as the common cold. Other possible causes of swollen lymph nodes include:

Common infections

• Strep throat
• Measles
• Ear infections
• Infected (abscessed) tooth
• Mononucleosis
• Skin or wound infections, such as cellulitis
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) — the virus that causes AIDS

Uncommon infections

• Tuberculosis
• Certain sexually transmitted infections, such as syphilis
• Toxoplasmosis — a parasitic infection resulting from contact with the feces of an infected cat or eating undercooked meat
• Cat scratch fever — a bacterial infection from a cat scratch or bite

Immune system disorders

• Lupus — a chronic inflammatory disease that targets your joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, heart and lungs
• Rheumatoid arthritis — a chronic inflammatory disease targeting the tissue that lines your joints (synovium)

Cancers

• Lymphoma — cancer that originates in your lymphatic system
• Leukemia — cancer of your body’s blood-forming tissue, including your bone marrow and lymphatic system
• Other cancers that have spread (metastasized) to lymph nodes

Other possible but rare causes include certain medications, such as the anti-seizure medication phenytoin (Dilantin) and preventive medications for malaria.

Complications

If infection is the cause of your swollen lymph nodes and isn’t treated, an abscess may form. Abscesses are localized collections of pus caused by infections. Pus contains fluid, white blood cells, dead tissue, and bacteria or other invaders. An abscess may require drainage and antibiotic treatment.

Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, inflammation – Causes of swollen lymph nodes and treatment in ON CLINIC Ryazan

Located in the groin, in the armpits and on the neck, the lymph nodes are a kind of natural filters for the lymphatic fluid that enters them from various organs. If a person is healthy, then these formations, which have a rounded shape, do not cause discomfort and pain during palpation, and are also small in size.

Such an alarming symptom as an increase in lymph nodes in the neck, as well as in other parts of the body – in which they are felt under the skin during palpation or become visible to the naked eye – indicates that something is wrong in the body. At the same time, the size of the lymph node may increase slightly or grow so much that it can be compared with a pigeon’s egg. To identify factors that provoked inflammation of the lymph nodes and an increase in their diameter, consult a doctor!

Causes of swollen lymph nodes

In most cases, an increase in the diameter of the lymph nodes is provoked by the defeat of the patient’s body by pathogens – bacteria, viruses, etc. For example, such a symptom is often accompanied by acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections. In this case, there is usually a slight increase in the lymph nodes in the neck, which can become painful when touched. After the disease is defeated, the size of the lymph nodes returns to their normal values.

In addition, serious infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, brucellosis and toxoplasmosis are common causes of swollen lymph nodes. Therefore, a sudden increase in their diameter in the absence of headache, cough and other characteristic symptoms of acute respiratory infections should be the reason for contacting, if not an infectious disease doctor, then at least a therapist!

Finally, inflammation of the lymph nodes and an increase in their size may be accompanied by intoxication of the body and allergic reactions, as well as oncological diseases. In the latter case, they do not cause pain on palpation, although they can reach several tens of millimeters in diameter.

Treatment of this disease in ON CLINIC in Ryazan

Therapy for enlarged lymph nodes depends primarily on what caused it. If it is an infection, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics or antivirals. In case of spread of infection from carious teeth, treatment by a dentist is necessary. If it’s an allergic reaction, then taking antihistamines and eliminating the source of the allergy from the patient’s life will help.

Inflammation of the lymph nodes, which is accompanied by their suppuration, is treated surgically. Procrastination can be very dangerous! Therefore, with an increase in the size of the lymph nodes, which is accompanied by painful sensations, consult a doctor immediately!

Are you interested in the price of lymph node enlargement treatment in Ryazan in our private clinic? Give us a call and make an appointment!

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Ultrasound of the thyroid gland with regional lymph nodes with Doppler scanning.

Make an appointment for Ultrasound of the thyroid gland with regional lymph nodes and Doppler scanning is available at the BC Clinic in Moscow. BS Clinic specialists have extensive experience and expert knowledge in the field of deciphering ultrasound indicators.

Ultrasound of the thyroid gland with regional lymph nodes and Doppler scanning is a safe and informative diagnostic method that makes it possible to assess the condition and functioning of not only the gland itself, but also the regional cervical lymph nodes.

Doppler ultrasound gives the doctor additional information. Doppler scanning is based on the reflection of ultrasound from moving blood particles – red blood cells. The readings obtained are displayed on the monitor and allow the doctor to assess the speed and quality of blood flow. Moreover, in the end, such a study helps to identify obvious signs of vascular disease and even suggest the degree of development of pathology.

Ultrasound of the thyroid gland with regional lymph nodes and Doppler scanning reveals:

• diffuse toxic goiter (Graves’ disease)
• hyperthyroidism
• hypothyroidism
• thyroiditis – inflammation of the thyroid gland
• oncological diseases
• cysts.

Enlarged nodule on the neck, as a rule, becomes a sign of:

• infection (acute thyroiditis)
• autoimmune inflammation (Hashimoto’s disease)
• exacerbations of chronic tonsillitis, sinusitis
• pneumonia
• boil

In a non-tumor process, the lymph node on the neck is densely elastic, mobile and painful. When a malignant tumor appears, the lymph node is large, hard, of stony density, soldered to neighboring tissues and painless.

Indications for an ultrasound appointment

Thyroid ultrasound with regional lymph nodes and Doppler scanning is necessary if the patient has the following symptoms:

• slow or rapid pulse
• heat or cold intolerance
• unreasonable reduction or weight gain
• frequent constipation, diarrhea or nausea
• irregular menstrual cycle, ovulatory dysfunction, changes in the concentration of female sex hormones
• reduced potency
• hand tremor
• sleep disorder
• swelling of the arms, legs and face
• frequent headaches
• increased anxiety, depressive disorders, irritability
• lethargy, weakness, apathy.

Doppler ultrasound is sometimes ordered by a doctor to evaluate the development of the fetus during a woman’s pregnancy.

Also, ultrasound of the thyroid gland with regional lymph nodes and Doppler scanning is performed to monitor the patient’s condition during treatment, after radiation or surgery.

Ultrasound diagnostic methods

The thyroid gland is connected to the lymph nodes through a system of lymphatic vessels.

When performing ultrasound of the thyroid gland with regional lymph nodes and Doppler scanning, the doctor looks at the following indicators:

• location relative to other organs
• size and contours
• structure
• uniformity of fabrics
• echogenicity
• the level of blood supply to the organ.

Contraindications for ultrasound procedure

There are no contraindications to this procedure, since the nature of the manipulation is safe and does not involve surgical intervention. Even the presence of a pacemaker and an insulin pump is not an obstacle to the procedure.

How the ultrasound procedure works

During the ultrasound procedure, the patient lies on the couch, lying on his back, with his head thrown back. The neck is lubricated with ultrasound gel to improve image transmission to the monitor. Then an ultrasound sensor is installed on the neck, which the doctor moves over the entire surface of the neck in the area of ​​​​the thyroid gland. Upon completion, all data are entered into the study protocol, which the doctor, along with the images, hands over to the patient.

You can make an ultrasound of the thyroid gland with regional lymph nodes and Doppler scanning in Moscow inexpensively by contacting the diagnostic center of the BS Clinic.

Advantages of the procedure

The procedure is absolutely painless and informative. It allows you to get real-time data on the state of the thyroid gland. The patient receives information on hand after the end of the ultrasound procedure.