What do lymph nodes do?
Lymph nodes are part of the body's immune system and are distributed throughout the body. Lymph nodes are oval or fava bean-shaped, varying in size, grayish red when fresh, and normal lymph nodes are mostly 0.2 to 0.5 cm, often distributed in groups. It is interspersed in the stroke of the lymphatic vessels and communicated with the lymphatic vessels. The main functions of lymph nodes are: filtering lymph, removing bacteria and foreign bodies, producing lymphocytes and antibodies.
Lymph nodes close to the surface of the body are behind the ears, jaw, neck, armpits, groin, etc. When the body is infected by foreign objects, such as viruses or bacteria, the lymph nodes will play a role and lymphadenopathy will occur. These adjacent surfaces can sometimes be touched, especially in cold throat inflammation, our jaws and neck are enlarged, and most of us can touch the enlarged lymph nodes.
What is lymphadenopathy?
Lymphadenopathy is mostly caused by increased volume due to internal cell hyperplasia or tumor cell infiltration.
General lymph node size in 0.2 ~ 0.5cm, enlarged lymph nodes often more than 1cm, or even larger, general lymphadenopathy: localized lymphadenopathy and systemic lymphadenopathy two.
Localized lymphadenopathy is mostly seen in: local infection, lymph nodes, lymphatic metastases of malignant tumors, etc.
Systemic lymphadenopathy is mostly seen in: systemic infectious diseases, viral infections with AIDS, etc.; bacterial infections are seen in brucellosis, hematogenous disseminated tuberculosis, leprosy, etc.; spirotheli infections are seen in syphilis, rat bite fever, leptospirosis, etc.; protozoa and parasitic infections are seen in kala-azar, filariasis, etc. Connective tissue diseases, tumors of the hematologic system, etc.
What causes lymphadenopathy?
1. Infection: This is the most common cause of lymph node enlargement, and all kinds of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and pathogenic microorganisms can be caused.
2. Tumor: tumors of the blood system can cause systemic lymphadenopathy, and the tumor metastasis of various organs can cause local lymphadenopathy.
3. Reactive lymph node hyperplasia: commonly found in connective tissue diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus rheumatism, as well as serum diseases and serum sickness-like reactions.
4. Abnormal cell hyperplasia and metabolism: such as sarcoidosis, histiocytosis, etc.
What should I do if I find swollen lymph nodes?
Do not panic when you find that the lymph nodes are enlarged, because there are many reasons for the enlargement of the lymph nodes in the body, and the reason for finding the cause is the first.
1. First determine whether it is localized or systemic lymph node enlargement.
This is very important, if it is a localized lymph node enlargement, then we first consider that there is a problem with the adjacent organ tissue, if it is a systemic lymph node enlargement, we lock the cause in the disease that can cause the lymph nodes to enlarge the whole body.
2, to eliminate the cause: if the body has a recent cause, such as cold fever, or inflammation, etc., there will generally be local lymphadenopathy, while touching more pain, but with treatment and improvement, the generally swollen lymph nodes will return to the original size.
However, the lymph nodes of lymphoma are enlarged, most of them will appear swollen throughout the body, the surface lymph nodes and deep lymph nodes will be swollen, but they are generally not painful when touched, and most systemic symptoms will appear, such as fever and night sweats and weight loss.
3. Color ultrasound and CT examination: color ultrasound and CT can determine the location and size of enlarged lymph nodes, superficial is suitable for color ultrasound, and deep parts can rely on CT examination.
4. Lymph node biopsy: for enlarged lymph nodes, most of them can be observed for a period of time, whether they continue to enlarge, whether more lymph nodes begin to enlarge, in order to clarify the nature, lymphadenotomy biopsy or puncture biopsy can be considered.
Everyone in the low resistance, infection and other diseases, there may be lymphadenopathy, so if you find lymphadenopathy, do not worry very much, you can go to the hospital for treatment, the doctor will give a specific medical plan according to the history, examination and examination.