Lymph Nodes & Cancer | What are Lymph Nodes?

• What is the lymph system?
• Cancer in the lymph nodes
• Effects of removing lymph nodes

What is the lymph system?

The lymph (or lymphatic) system is a part of your body’s immune system. It includes a network of lymph vessels and lymph nodes. Lymph vessels are a lot like the veins that collect and carry blood through the body. But instead of carrying blood, these vessels carry the clear watery fluid called lymph. Lymph fluid also contains white blood cells, which help fight infections.

Lymph fluid would build up and cause swelling if it were not drained in some way. Lymph vessels draw up the lymph fluid from around the cells to send it towards the chest. There, lymph fluid collects into a large vessel that drains into a blood vessel near the heart.

Lymph nodes and what they do

Lymph vessels send lymph fluid through nodes throughout the body. Lymph nodes are small structures that work as filters for foreign substances, such as cancer cells and infections. They contain immune cells that can help fight infection by attacking and destroying germs that are carried in through the lymph fluid. Lymph nodes are located in many parts of the body, including the neck, armpit, chest, abdomen (belly), and groin. They contain immune cells that can help fight infection by attacking and destroying germs that are carried in through the lymph fluid.

There are hundreds of lymph nodes throughout the body. Each lymph node filters the fluid and substances picked up by the vessels that lead to it. Lymph fluid from the fingers, for instance, works its way toward the chest, joining fluid from the arm. This fluid may filter through lymph nodes at the elbow, or those under the arm. Fluid from the head, scalp, and face flows down through lymph nodes in the neck. Some lymph nodes are deep inside the body, such as between the lungs or around the bowel, to filter fluid in those areas.

Swollen lymph nodes

When there’s a problem, such as infection, injury, or cancer, lymph nodes in that area may swell or enlarge as they work to filter out the “bad” cells. Swollen lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy) tell you that something is not right, but other symptoms help pinpoint the problem. For instance, ear pain, fever, and enlarged lymph nodes near your ear are clues that you may have an ear infection or cold.

Some areas where lymph nodes commonly swell are in the neck, groin, and underarms. In most cases, only one area of nodes swells at a time. When more than one area of lymph nodes is swollen it’s called generalized lymphadenopathy. Some infections (such as strep throat and chicken pox), certain medicines, immune system diseases, and cancers like lymphoma and leukemia can cause this kind of swelling. Your health care provider will look for more information to figure out the cause of the swelling. Lymph node swelling is often caused by something other than cancer.

Cancer in the lymph nodes

Cancer can appear in the lymph nodes in 2 ways: it can either start there or it can spread there from somewhere else.

Cancer that starts in the lymph nodes is called lymphoma. You can read more about lymphoma in Hodgkin Lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.

More often, cancer starts somewhere else and then spreads to lymph nodes. That is the focus of this section.

How does cancer spread to lymph nodes?

Cancer can spread from where it started (the primary site) to other parts of the body.

When cancer cells break away from a tumor, they can travel to other areas through either the bloodstream or the lymph system. If they travel through the lymph system, the cancer cells may end up in lymph nodes. Most of the escaped cancer cells die or are killed before they can start growing somewhere else. But one or two might settle in a new area, begin to grow, and form new tumors. This spread of cancer to a new part of the body is called metastasis.

In order for cancer cells to spread to new parts of the body, they have to go through several changes. They must become able to break away from the original tumor and attach to the outside wall of a lymph or blood vessel. Then they must move through the vessel wall to flow with the blood or lymph to a new organ or lymph node.

When cancer does spread to lymph nodes, it usually spreads to nodes near the tumor itself. These are the nodes that have been doing most of the work to filter out or kill the cancer cells.

How is cancer in lymph nodes found?

Normal lymph nodes are tiny and can be hard to find, but when there’s infection, inflammation, or cancer, the nodes can get larger. Those near the body’s surface often get big enough to feel with your fingers, and some can even be seen. But if there are only a few cancer cells in a lymph node, it may look and feel normal. Lymph nodes deep in the body cannot be felt or seen. So doctors may use scans or other imaging tests to look for enlarged nodes that are deep in the body. Often, enlarged lymph nodes near a cancer are assumed to contain cancer.

The only way to know whether there is cancer in a lymph node is to do a biopsy. Doctors may remove lymph nodes or take samples of one or more nodes using needles. The tissue that’s removed is looked at under the microscope by a pathologist (a doctor who diagnoses illness using tissue samples) to find out if there are cancer cells in it. The pathologist prepares a report, which details what was found. If a node has cancer in it, the report describes what it looks like and how much was seen.

When a surgeon operates to remove a primary cancer, they may remove one or more of the nearby (regional) lymph nodes as well. Removal of one lymph node is considered a biopsy, but when many lymph nodes are removed, it’s called lymph node dissection. When cancer has spread to lymph nodes, there’s a higher risk that the cancer might come back after surgery. This information helps the doctor decide whether more treatment, like chemo, immunotherapy, targeted therapy or radiation, might be needed after surgery.

What does it mean if there’s cancer in my lymph node?

If cancer is found in one or more lymph nodes, it could mean that more tests are needed to know how far the cancer has spread. This information is used to determine the stage of your cancer and the best treatment options.

For more information on staging, see Cancer Staging, or find your cancer type for more detailed information.

Effects of removing lymph nodes

When lymph nodes are removed, it can leave the affected area without a way to drain off the lymph fluid. Many of the lymph vessels now run into a dead end where the node used to be, and fluid can back up. This is called lymphedema, which can become a life-long problem. The more lymph nodes that are removed, the more likely it is to occur. To learn more about what to look for, ways reduce your risk, and how to manage this side effect, see Lymphedema.

Removing lymph nodes during cancer surgery is highly unlikely to weaken a person’s immune system, since the immune system is large and complex and is located throughout the body.

The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team

Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as journalists, editors, and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.

American Joint Committee on Cancer. AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, 8th ed. New York: Springer 2017: 715-725.

Liao S, von der Weid PY. Lymphatic system: an active pathway for immune protection. Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2015;38:83–89.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Overview of the Immune System. Updated December 30, 2013. Accessed at https://www.niaid.nih.gov/research/immune-system-overview on February 23, 2021. 

Last Revised: March 2, 2021

American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.

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.

What are lymph nodes and what to do if they are enlarged?

Lymph nodes allow lymph to pass through, retaining and destroying bacteria, viruses and malignant cells. Sometimes they increase, which raises many questions.

Let’s figure out what lymph nodes are, how they are arranged and why it is impossible to follow the advice from the Internet when they increase.

What are lymph nodes and why are they needed?

Lymph node is a peripheral organ of the immune system, located on the path of lymphatic vessels from organs and tissues.

Lymph is the liquid part of the blood that is filtered into the intercellular space through the walls of the capillaries. It is rich in proteins, electrolytes and water. It is impossible to lose these valuable substances, and it is impossible to return them back to the blood vessels through the wall. The “filtrate” of the blood enters the lymphatic system, from where it enters the superior vena cava through a network of vessels, that is, it returns to the bloodstream.

Along the course of the lymphatic vessels there are lymph nodes – rounded formations the size of a pea. At its core, a lymph node is an accumulation of protective cells – lymphocytes and macrophages – on a “frame” of connective tissue. Lymph nodes allow the flow of lymph through them, and the protective cells that make up them delay and destroy foreign agents (bacteria, parasites, viruses, tumor cells) that have entered the human body.

That is why the lymph nodes are called biological filters, and they themselves resemble knight’s castles, located in the most important directions of medieval states and protecting them from enemy attacks.

Classification of lymph nodes

There are approximately 500 lymph nodes in the human body. They are located mainly in groups. Each group receives lymph from a specific area of ​​the body or part of an organ. There are many classifications of lymph nodes, the simplest of them is a classification based on localization. There are no lymph nodes in the brain and spinal cord, bones, and the area of ​​the hands and feet.

Swollen lymph nodes: symptom or disease?

Swollen lymph nodes, or lymphadenopathy, is a symptom of a large number of diseases. This is not an independent disease, but only one of its signs, such as headache or fever.

Doctors have many classifications of lymphadenopathy. In this article, we will give only a couple of the main ones that will help in understanding the stated problem.

Depending on the extent of the process, lymph node enlargement can be local and generalized ¹ . In the first case, the lymph nodes of 1-2 adjacent anatomical regions increase. For example, submandibular and cervical. In the second case, there is an increase in lymph nodes in two or more non-adjacent, located far from each other, zones. For example, in the inguinal and axillary regions.

Duration of lymph node enlargement can be short (less than 2 months) and protracted (more than 2 months) ¹ .

Why do lymph nodes enlarge?

Swollen lymph nodes can be a symptom of both a relatively harmless disease and a very serious disease. Therefore, you need not to self-medicate, but to look for the cause. And this is the prerogative of the doctor.

Here are just some of the possible causes of swollen lymph nodes:

• infectious diseases . The entry of an infectious agent (virus, bacteria) into the lymph node leads to increased blood flow, active division of lymphocytes and enlargement of the lymph node. That is, this process is of a reciprocal protective nature. An increase in lymph nodes is observed with infections of the upper respiratory tract (adenoviral, tonsillitis), infectious mononucleosis, childhood infections (measles, rubella, mumps, chickenpox), cytomegalovirus infection, etc. In acute infectious diseases, an increase in lymph nodes is temporary and is accompanied by other symptoms (fever, general weakness, malaise, cough, runny nose). Also, swollen lymph nodes can be one of the symptoms of HIV infection;
• autoimmune connective tissue diseases . With these diseases, the human immune system does not work quite adequately, which is why the body begins to attack its own cells. An increase in lymph nodes can be observed with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus;
• pyoinflammatory processes of the skin, underlying structures and internal organs. Even panaritium or a bad tooth can cause an increase in lymph nodes;
• vaccination . The introduction of a killed pathogen or its parts into the body leads to the development of an immune response. An increase in lymph nodes is not at all uncommon;
• allergic reactions . Taking many medications (antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and lowering blood pressure) may be accompanied by an increase in lymph nodes;
• neoplastic diseases . Enlarged lymph nodes are a common and sometimes the only sign of cancer. In oncological diseases, it can be primary and secondary.

Primary enlargement of lymph nodes

It is observed in tumors that directly affect the lymphatic system – lymphomas. Usually in these cases, the lymph nodes are more than 2 cm in diameter, painless, and their increase occurs against the background of apparent health, which is why the person does not immediately turn to the doctor.

Secondary enlargement of lymph nodes

It is observed in a malignant neoplasm of any localization. For example, with breast cancer, the only sign may be an increase in the lymph nodes in the armpit.

The fact is that as soon as malignant cells find themselves in the intercellular space, they quickly enter the lymphatic capillaries, and from there to the nearest lymph node. There, some of them are destroyed, and some settle and begin to divide, forming a secondary tumor focus.

The division of tumor cells and the increase in the number of protective cells over time leads to an increase in the size of the lymph node. This is a kind of “price” for curbing the growth of a tumor and the spread of tumor cells throughout the body, because if there were no lymph nodes, tumor cells would very quickly enter the bloodstream and give distant metastases.

With local lymphadenopathy, the tumor is detected in about half of the cases, and with generalized lymphadenopathy – in almost 90% of cases ¹ ! Therefore, it is so important to exclude the tumor origin of lymphadenopathy and understand its causes. You should not waste precious time on self-treatment, and if enlarged lymph nodes appear, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.

What should I do if my lymph nodes are enlarged and which doctor should I visit?

The adult needs to see a general practitioner and the child/teenager needs to be taken to see a pediatrician. Usually, a clinical examination and simple studies (general and biochemical blood tests, if necessary, X-ray examination or ultrasound of a certain area of ​​the body) are enough for a specialist to make a preliminary diagnosis and prescribe treatment or refer the patient to a narrower specialist (oncologist, surgeon, rheumatologist, infectious disease specialist) for further examination.

What not to do when the lymph nodes are “swollen”: breaking the stereotypes

Having discovered enlarged lymph nodes, many people, instead of going to the doctor and understanding the causes of what is happening, begin to self-medicate: heat the area of ​​the enlarged lymph node, drink antibiotics, use compresses, etc. You can find a great many similar tips on the Internet.

Should I do it? No way.

Warming up the area of ​​the lymph nodes

Many people use pan-calcined salt or a freshly boiled egg to warm up the area of ​​the enlarged lymph node. This is usually done to reduce pain. But for most patients, this is absolutely impossible. In the presence of an inflammatory process, thermal exposure will lead to vasodilation and increased inflammation, and in the case of a tumor process, it can accelerate cell division. Both will make the situation worse.

Taking antibiotics

There are many people who uncontrollably “treat” any “suspicious” symptoms with antibiotics. Of course, this is wrong. Antibacterial drugs are prescribed only by a doctor and strictly according to indications. In most cases, with an increase in lymph nodes, taking antibiotics is simply not advisable and will not give a positive effect.

Use of compresses, ointments/gels

The result here is the same as when warming up – the situation only gets worse. In addition, there is the danger of chemical burns to the skin.

Cabbage leaf application

Cabbage, of course, contains many vitamins and microelements, but it is completely useless as an anti-inflammatory agent. But before the patient has time to be convinced of this, some time passes – and the delay in treatment can have an extremely adverse effect on the result, especially when it comes to malignant diseases such as lymphomas.

Do not waste time on self-treatment! In most cases, this leads to a loss of time and aggravates the situation. Swollen lymph nodes may be a symptom of a serious illness. Consult a doctor who will understand the causes of enlarged lymph nodes and determine further management tactics.

M-EN-00005757 December 2021

Sources (Electronic resource). URL: https://diseases.medelement.com/disease/%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%B0%D0%B3%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8 %D0%BA%D0%B0-%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BC%D1%84%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BF% D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B9-%D0%BA%D1%80-%D1%80%D1%84-2018/16754 (accessed 11/21/2021).

#Life with oncology#Cancer alertness#Useful information

where they are, what functions they perform, under what diseases they increase

Inflammation and enlargement of the lymph nodes usually cause discomfort and pain. As a rule, this indicates that an inflammatory process is going on in the body.

What are lymph nodes

Lymph nodes are the most important organs that perform a barrier-filtration function ¹ . Their main function is the biological filter of lymph – a colorless liquid that washes all the tissues and cells of the body. It consists of plasma and formed elements. Interestingly, the lymph plasma has an almost similar chemical structure to the blood plasma, but contains fewer proteins ² .

Useful information about lymph nodes

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Where are the lymph nodes

Lymph nodes are located almost everywhere. They are arranged in such a way as to become an obstacle in the way of various “garbage”: toxins, viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, cancer cells.

Most lymph nodes are located deep under the skin and even near internal organs where they cannot be felt. But some lymph nodes – under the jaw, in the armpits, in the groin – can be palpated even in a healthy, non-inflamed state.

Photo: Shutterstock

Functions of the lymph nodes

As mentioned earlier, the main function of the lymph nodes is barrier-protective function. In these organs of the lymphatic system, protective cells of the body are formed, such as lymphocytes, antibodies, phagocytes. Lymph nodes protect against the penetration of infections, and also prevent the reproduction of malignant tumor cells and play a role in the immune response to substances foreign to the body.

The lymph nodes also perform the following functions:

• hematopoietic – after the lymph nodes, lymph enriched with lymphocytes enters the blood;
• drainage – promote the outflow of excess fluid;
• depositing (reserve) – lymph node is a temporary storage of lymphocytes and lymph. The latter lingers in the lymph node in order to ensure the unloading of the bloodstream in “emergency” situations, for example, during venous congestion;
• metabolic – lymph nodes are involved in the metabolism of fats, proteins, carbohydrates and other substances.

Causes of swollen lymph nodes

Lymph nodes have their own diseases, and most often their inflammation is a reaction to some other disease or condition. Completely different reasons can lead to an increase in lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy). Consider the most common of them.

Local infections

Infection is one of the most common causes of swollen lymph nodes.

— For example, it can be acute respiratory diseases, leading to an increase in regional lymph nodes associated with the area in which inflammation occurs, says doctor-therapist Oksana Khamitseva.

As a rule, the focus of the disease is located near enlarged lymph nodes. So, with infections of the upper respiratory tract, the lymph nodes in the neck become inflamed, with a sexual infection – in the groin.

Generalized viral and bacterial infections

If only one category of lymph nodes is affected, then they speak of local inflammation. If the nodes that are not adjacent to each other increase, then we are talking about a generalized inflammation of the lymph nodes.

This widespread inflammation can be caused by infections – bacterial, viral, fungal, which affect the entire body. It can be tuberculosis, some infectious skin diseases, rubella, chickenpox, cytomegalovirus, mononucleosis, HIV and others.

Autoimmune diseases

Autoimmune connective tissue diseases such as arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus can also cause swollen lymph nodes. In such diseases, the body begins to attack its own cells. Due to the increasing load on the lymph nodes, their inflammation occurs.

Tumor processes

Swollen lymph nodes can also signal tumor processes in the body. As we wrote above, lymph nodes prevent the reproduction of cancer cells, but in some cases, tumor cells can get stuck in them and multiply. Tumor processes can lead to the development of leukemia, lymphogranulomatosis, lymphoma.

Hypersensitivity of the body

Allergic reactions can also provoke inflammation of the lymph nodes. In addition, their increase may be associated with hypersensitivity to certain drugs.

How lymph nodes are treated

The treatment of lymphadenopathy is varied and always depends on its cause. An increase in lymph nodes is a signal of inflammation, so you need to look for its source.

Most often, inflammation of the lymph nodes occurs as a secondary process, that is, a reaction to another disease:

• if this is associated with acute respiratory infections, then it is necessary to treat the respiratory tract infection itself, be it a bacterium or a virus;
• if it is associated with a generalized infection (mononucleosis, HIV), then long-term specific therapy is selected here;
• cat-scratch disease (felinosis) is treated with special antibiotics;
• Sepsis is stopped only in the hospital by intravenous administration of various drugs, including antibiotics, and ionic solutions.
• autoimmune diseases (systemic lupus erythematosus, Kawasaki disease, etc.) are treated by a rheumatologist, prescribing hormones or cytostatics in long courses under constant supervision.

Lymphadenopathy can also be caused by cancer. Conventionally, they can be divided into 3 sections:

1. leukemia, when the primary malignant focus is in the bone marrow;
2. lymphomas, when the foci are located directly in the lymph nodes;
3. metastases, when the focus is located in the internal organ, and cancer cells affect the lymph nodes in the path of lymph outflow.

— In the case of leukemia, bone marrow transplantation is possible. With lymphoma, it is useless to do this, you can only use various options for radiation, chemotherapy, genetic engineering methods. And if lymphadenopathy is caused by metastases, then, as a rule, the tumor of the corresponding organ is removed, entering healthy tissues and capturing the “package” of the affected lymph nodes, says our expert Oksana Khamitseva.

How to maintain the health of the lymphatic system at home

According to physician Oksana Khamitseva, the health of the lymphatic system primarily depends on two components: good lymphatic drainage and normal functioning of the immune system. This is not difficult to achieve:

• regular physical activity;
• avoid tight, constricting clothing;
• smoking and alcohol cessation;
• courses of multivitamins 2 times a year;
• food high in protein and fiber in the diet;
• adequate fluid intake.

Popular questions and answers

General practitioner Oksana Khamitseva answers popular questions about lymph nodes.

Which lymph node is responsible for what?

– Each internal organ is supplied with lymph nodes, arteries and veins. If we talk about those lymph nodes that we can feel:

• Submandibular: increase with rhinitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, inflammation of the teeth and gums.
• Cervical: inflamed with acute respiratory infections, conjunctivitis, otitis media.
• Parotid: react to otitis media, acute respiratory infections.
• Occipital: increased with head and neck infections, acute tonsillitis, infectious mononucleosis.
• Axillary: may also be associated with mononucleosis, mastitis, breast cancer, HIV, cat scratch disease.
• Elbows: felinosis, HIV.
• Inguinal: mumps, generalized infections, inflammation of the urogenital organs.

What to do if the lymph nodes are inflamed?

— If you have lymphadenitis, you need to see a doctor, because you don’t know what it can be connected with. If you notice an increase in lymph nodes in the head and neck, there are signs of acute respiratory infections (runny nose, sore throat, cough, fever), then you can independently start taking vitamins, antiviral drugs, NSAIDs, symptomatic treatments for colds.

If you notice an increase in lymph nodes, which is objectively not related to the infectious process, then doing something without a doctor’s recommendation can be dangerous. Even taking vitamins, if the process is autoimmune, will spur the immune system to even more aggressive inflammation.

Why is inflammation of the lymph nodes dangerous?

— Complications of lymphadenitis include:

• transfer of infection to nearby tissues: bones, subcutaneous fat, skin;
• blockage by blood clots of veins adjacent to inflamed lymph nodes;
• violation of lymphatic drainage, edema, “elephantiasis” of the limbs.

What can not be done with enlarged lymph nodes?

– If you notice an increase in lymph nodes, then it is strongly not recommended to ignore it, heat or apply ice, make lotions without the permission of a doctor. Also, do not smear with anti-inflammatory ointments (you will reduce one lymph node and decide that you are cured, and if it is an oncology?), squeeze and massage the lymph node.

The patient does not know in which direction the lymph flows from this or that lymph node, and if you make the wrong movements, stagnation can be provoked.

Which doctor treats lymph nodes?

— All roads lead to a therapist. After examination and examination, a specialist can identify what lymphadenitis is associated with, treat acute respiratory infections or refer to an ENT doctor, an infectious disease specialist if an infectious process is detected. If an autoimmune disease is detected, your doctor is a rheumatologist, and in case of suspicion of leukemia or lymphoma, an oncologist.

Sources:

1. Semioshko N.V. Lymph nodes adjacent to the celiac trunk // BBC 28.706 Ya431 V 38. – 2014. – P. 111. http://sno.grsmu.by/conference/mk47.pdf#page=111
2. Pogrelchuk O.E., Danko E.S. Blood and lymph. Hematopoiesis // In the world of scientific discoveries. – 2018. – S. 219-221. https://www.elibrary.ru/download/elibrary_36443065_39723184.pdf
3. Dvoretsky L.I. Differential diagnosis in lymphadenopathy // Handbook of a polyclinic doctor. – 2005. – no. 2.