If you are getting swollen lymph nodes or usually face it again, you need to know well about this infections to handle it and make your life quality better. In this article, Mediband helps you to understand what exactly cause this infection, symptoms and how to treat it effectively. Let's dive in!

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What is swollen lymph nodes?

The lymph nodes play a major role in the body’s immune system. Also known as lymph glands, they are tiny, oval-shaped organs found in different parts of the body. Although people find them on all over the body, the most prominent ones are the lymph nodes in the neck, armpits and groin area.

Lymph nodes contain immune cells or lymphocytes, including natural killer B and T cells that attack and kill foreign invaders. These harmful foreign bodies can come in the form of bacteria, fungi or viruses.

Whenever you have an infection or get sick, the lymph nodes release disease-fighting cells and compounds from the immune system. When this happens, the infection can sometimes get swollen or painful. This condition where you have inflamed lymph nodes is called lymphadenitis.

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Symptoms of swollen lymph nodes

Lymphadenitis comes with a number of symptoms. However, these symptoms depend on the location of the inflamed lymph nodes and the type of infection. These symptoms include:

  • Fever, sore throat, runny nose or other upper respiratory symptoms
  • Swelling in the limbs (may indicate a blockage in the lymphatic system)
  • Inflammation of lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin
  • Excessive sweating at night
  • Enlargement and hardening of the lymph nodes

When you go to the doctor to get yourself checked for an infection, you’ll typically undergo a physical exam. The doctor can feel the common lymph node swelling locations and might ask you if you have any of the above symptoms.

If doctor do not known the cause or it is invisible, he/she could ask for tests like blood tests, X-rays or CT scans. They’ll be checking you for tumours or other possible causes of infection. Depending on what your doctor suspects to be the cause, you might also be asked to undergo a lymph node biopsy.

Causes of infection

During your lifetime, you could experience any number of infections. Some of these could lead to swollen lymph nodes while others simply resolve on their own.

Some common causes of infection usually accompanied with lymphadenitis are flu, common cold, tonsillitis, toothaches or gum infections, skin infections, etc. Severe infections like those involving herpes, Lyme disease, chickenpox, HIV and tuberculosis can cause multiple lymph node inflammations.

Certain immune system disorders like Sjogren’s syndrome, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis can lead to swollen lymph glands, too. Some types of cancer like leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease and lymphoma can also cause lymph node inflammation.

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Methods of treatment

The kind of treatment you will receive will be based on the cause of your lymph node inflammation. There are also cases when treatment is not necessary. If you are in good health and your body is already resolving the infection on its own, your doctor will just let nature take its course.

If you require treatment, therapy might come in the form of:

  • Self-treatment: You had better take medications, such as painkillers, and given instructions to alleviate inflammation at home. In other cases, doctor can prescribe you to take a course of antibiotics to aid your body in fighting off the infection.
  • Drainage of abscess: When an infected lymph node form an abscess, your doctor might recommend draining it. This requires them to make a small cut to drain the infected pus. You should take medication to prevent further infection and facilitate healing.
  • Cancer treatment: If the doctor determines that the swelling caused by a cancerous tumour, you might be advised to undergo surgery, radiation or chemotherapy.

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Mediband lymph node bracelets

Special medical bracelets are available for people with lymph node-related conditions such as lymphedema and axillary lymph nodes.

Lymphedema refers to excessive lymph fluid buildup and swelling in tissues, particularly the limbs. Axillary lymph nodes that drain the body's lymph vessels are usually absent in those who have had breast cancer treatment. Doctor will remove these nodes during a mastectomy to get rid of cancer cells in the body. This can also result in lymphedema – which is not treatable, although it can be managed.

During emergency situations where first responders typically administer first aid treatment, Mediband lymph nodes bracelets play an important role. With your lymphedema or axillary lymph nodes bracelet on, paramedics would know not to administer certain procedures like performing blood pressure tests or using IV needles in the affected limbs.

Do you have lymphedema or axillary lymph nodes or know someone who does?

If you or a loved one has either of these medical conditions, make sure you wear the right Mediband medical alert bracelet. For more information on our medical alert bracelets and other medical IDs, please browse through our website.