Lymphadenitis Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
Lymphadenitis is an inflammatory condition of the lymph nodes. Inflammation of the lymph nodes usually does not occur alone, but is the result of an infection elsewhere (eg in the skin or in the teeth) that spreads to the lymph nodes.
Lymph nodes are very small organs, which function to keep the body protected from germ infections. Lymph nodes are scattered throughout the body, from head to toe, and are present in internal organs such as the stomach, intestines, and so on.
Symptom
Lymphadenitis can cause a variety of symptoms, depending on the location and whether other diseases coexist with lymphadenitis.
In general, lymphadenitis causes symptoms in the form of enlarged, inflamed lymph nodes. Under normal circumstances, the lymph nodes should not be palpable from the outside.
If the lymph nodes appear to be prominent or palpable from the outside, this can be a sign of lymphadenitis. Usually, enlarged lymph nodes are accompanied by pain and redness of the skin. Other symptoms that can occur are fever, excessive sweating (especially at night), tired easily, coughing, runny nose, or shortness of breath.
Reason
There are many causes of lymphadenitis. However, the most common are bacterial infections, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus beta hemolyticus. In addition, viruses can also cause lymphadenitis, for example, cytomegalovirus and Ebstein-Barr virus.
Lymphadenitis can also occur due to disorders of the immune system and can also be a sign of a tumor. Tumors that cause symptoms of lymphadenitis include leukemia, lymphoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma.
Diagnosis
Usually through clinical examination, the doctor can determine the presence of lymphadenitis. The doctor will feel the lymph nodes in the head, neck, armpits, and groin to see if there are any swollen or painful lymph nodes.
If necessary, routine blood tests (hemoglobin, leukocytes, and platelets) are also needed to see any signs of infection. If the enlarged lymph nodes do not improve after treatment, a lymph node biopsy is also needed to confirm the disease experienced.
Treatment
Treatment of lymphadenitis depends on the cause. To reduce symptoms, sufferers of lymphadenitis, you can take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.
If lymphadenitis is caused by a bacterial infection, the treatment is with antibiotics according to the doctor’s instructions. If lymphadenitis is caused by a viral infection, generally it doesn’t need any treatment, it will heal on its own within a few days. If the symptoms of lymphadenitis are severe enough to cause pus to appear, it is necessary to do minor surgery to remove and clean the pus.
Prevention
There isn’t much that can be done to prevent lymphadenitis. However, to reduce the risk of developing lymphadenitis, it is best if there is an infection of the skin, teeth, or infection elsewhere, see a doctor immediately to get the right treatment so that the infection does not spread to the lymph nodes.