Lymphadenopathy – What is it, Causes, Symptoms and Treatments!
Lymphadenopathy – What it is, Causes, Symptoms and Treatments best suited to deal with this condition. Also, Lymphadenopathy is any change in the size and consistency of lymph nodes, also called lymph nodes.
Lymph nodes are small defense organs located in the path of lymphatic vessels. They filter the lymph and can retain, destroy or delay the proliferation of microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, protozoa) and cancer cells in the body.
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Lymphadenopathy can be regional (cervical, inguinal, axillary), when affected lymph nodes drain from an infected or cancer-affected site, or generalized, when lymph nodes increase in size due to disease spread throughout the body.
Lymphadenopathy is diagnosed through the use of biopsy and special radiological techniques, such as lymphography. Superficial ganglia, usually perceptible by palpation, become more evident as they increase in volume.
Lymphadenopathy of adenopathies is multiple; its diagnosis is guided according to topography, extension and clinical features. Lymphadenopathy may be of infectious origin, especially tuberculous and mycotic, and may also indicate the existence of acute or chronic, benign or malignant hemopathy . Among the latter, leukemias and lymphomas are important.
Causes of Lymphadenopathy: The infections that usually cause swollen lymph nodes that is Lymphadenopathy include:
- skin infections;
- Mononucleosis ;
- Impacted or abscessed tooth;
- Cold , flu and other infections;
- Tuberculosis ;
- gingivitis ;
- Sexually transmitted diseases (STD) ;
- tonsillitis ;
- oral ulcers;
- Swollen lymph nodes can also be caused by diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and HIV ;
- Ear infection.
Cancers that often cause this problem include leukemia , Hodgkin’s disease, or non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. However, many other types of cancer may also be involved. Which lymph nodes become swollen depends on the type of problem and the body parts involved.
Identifying the location can help determine the possible cause. Swollen lymph nodes can also be caused by some drugs (such as phenytoin, used for seizures) or by certain vaccines (such as the typhoid immunization).
Symptoms of Lymphadenopathy: In addition to pathological changes of lymph nodes, additional symptoms may be observed. The nature of its existence depends on what caused the development of this pathology. In general, we can distinguish these symptoms:
- Drastic weight loss for no apparent reason;
- fever ;
- Sweating (especially at night);
- Rash;
- Increase splenomegaly and hepatomegaly;
- Excessive Fever ;
- In most cases, lymph node enlargement is a marker for other complex diseases.
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Treatment For Lymphadenopathy: Primary treatment is directed at the cause; adenopathies themselves are not treated. A corticosteroid trial is not done for adenopathies of unknown etiology, as corticosteroids may reduce lymphoma and leukemia adenopathiesAn antibiotic trial is also not indicated, except when a suppurative lymph node infection is suspected.