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Lymph nodes are parts of the lymphatic system, which is responsible for transporting fatty substances and providing the body's defense mechanism. Known as control points on the lymph vessels, lymph nodes are distributed over a wide area such as behind the ears, behind the neck, under the chin, behind the head, armpits and groin.
There are about 600 lymph nodes in the human body and these node can occasionally become enlarged as a result of various infections. Usually benign, swollen lymph nodes can sometimes be caused by more serious conditions such as rheumatism or cancer.
What is Enlargement of Lymph Nodes?
Lymph node enlargement is most often caused by a bacterial or viral infection, but in rare cases, swollen glands can be caused by cancer. Lymph node enlargement in any part of the body is a condition that shows that the defense mechanism is fighting the disease. As this disease heals, the enlarged lymph nodes will go away.
Lymph nodes capture and filter bacteria and viruses, thus supporting the body's defense mechanism and preventing harmful bacteria from reaching other parts of the body.
En rahat fark edilen lenf bezleri çene altı, boyun, kasıklar ve koltuk altı bezleridir; aynı zamanda karın içi ve göğüs ortası gibi daha derin bölgelerde de lenf bezleri bulunur.
The most easily recognizable lymph nodes are under the chin, neck, groin and armpits, but there are also lymph nodes in deeper areas such as the abdomen and mid-chest.
Lymph node enlargement has different symptoms depending on the site of involvement. The most common symptoms are as follows:
- High fever
- Painless and enlarged lymph nodes
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Sweating in the nights
- Respiratory problems
- Chest pain
- Coughing
- Abdominal swelling and pain
- Itching
What Causes Enlargement of Lymph Nodes?
Lymph node enlargement is usually caused by local infection. For example; problems such as upper respiratory tract infections and colds can cause swollen neck lymph nodes. Other possible causes of enlargement are:
- Catching cold and flu
- Sore throat
- Sinus infection
- Ear infection
- Tooth abscess
- Measles
- Skin infections
- HIV virus
- Tuberculosis
- Zona
- Animal-borne infections
- Sexual diseases
- Rheumatoid arthritis-like immune system problems
- Leukemia
- Lymphoma
- Some medicines used
How is Enlargement of Lymph Nodes are Treated?
Treatment of lymph node enlargement varies according to the underlying problem. For this reason, the source of the problem is first determined by medical history, physical examination, and blood tests. If necessary, diversification imaging techniques and lymph node biopsies can also be evaluated. Once the cause of the swollen node is known, an appropriate treatment is developed.
Since enlarged lymph nodes are usually caused by bacterial or viral infections, antibiotics, and antiviral drugs are commonly used in treatment. While some lymph node swellings resolve on their own over time, others may cause complaints such as pain or inflammation. In addition to painkillers, ibuprofen may be preferred to eliminate these complaints. With regular use of medication, the infection in the body is treated in a short time and the lymph nodes return to their normal size.
In cases caused by cancer or metastases, the enlarged lymph nodes may not regress until the cancer is treated. In some cases, the affected lymph nodes may need to be removed along with the tumor. The treatment of cancer patients depends on many factors such as the patient's general health, cancer stage, symptoms and age. The physician's decision is important at this stage and varies from person to person.
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