Causes and treatments for swollen lymph nodes

Lymph node enlargement is a common disease currently. The causes of lymph node enlargement are mainly related to inflammatory infection, bacterial lesions, and tumor spread. In terms of treatment, you should be careful not to choose medication according to your own ideas. You should choose appropriate medication treatment according to the condition of lymph node enlargement. Do not perform surgery for lymph node enlargement within a short period of time. Do not rush into treatment without a clear diagnosis of the cause.

treat

After a clear diagnosis, if the lymph node enlargement is caused by an infectious disease, anti-infection treatment is given; if the disease is caused by an immune response, glucocorticoid treatment is given; if the lymph node enlargement is caused by a malignant tumor, chemotherapy and radiotherapy can be used. For some cases of lymph node enlargement with unclear causes, follow-up observation and symptomatic treatment are recommended.

Clinical significance

1. Local lymphadenopathy

Causes of local lymph node enlargement include:

1. Nonspecific lymphadenitis: caused by acute or chronic inflammation in the drainage area. For example, acute suppurative tonsillitis can cause swollen cervical lymph nodes. Swollen lymph nodes are generally soft, tender, smooth and free of adhesions.

2. Lymph node tuberculosis: Enlarged lymph nodes mostly occur around the blood vessels in the neck. They are multiple, slightly hard, of varying sizes, and may adhere to each other or to the surrounding tissues. In the late stage, they may form fistulas after rupture and form scars after healing.

3. Lymph node metastasis of malignant tumors: The enlarged lymph nodes are hard or rubbery, adhered to the surrounding tissues, difficult to move, and generally not tender. For example, lung cancer often metastasizes to the right supraclavicular lymph nodes; gastric cancer or esophageal cancer often metastasizes to the left supraclavicular lymph nodes, called Virchow lymph nodes; and breast cancer often metastasizes to the axillary lymph nodes.

2. Systemic lymphadenopathy

The swollen lymph nodes may be found all over the body, in varying sizes and without adhesions. Such as acute and chronic lymphadenitis, lymphoma, leukemia, infectious mononucleosis, etc.

Precautions

If the patient's fever exceeds 38.3℃, do not insist on lowering the temperature. If the infection is bacterial or viral, fever must be tolerated and may aid recovery. If the patient is not suitable for antipyretics, gentle sponge baths or cooling blankets can also be used to reduce temperature.

It is best to obtain blood for complete blood count, liver and kidney function tests, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and blood culture. Prepare a plan for other diagnostic tests, such as a chest X-ray, liver or spleen scan, lymph node biopsy, or lymphangiography. If testing shows an infection, consult the hospital policy regarding infection control.