LYMPLEX LYMPHATIC DETOX,
HIV/AIDS, CANCER, HEART, INFLAMMATION AND INFECTION
Watch our Inflammation and Infection Detox Video…
The Lymphatic System helps Digestion, The Heart Function,
Inflammation, Auto-immunity, Infection/HIV, Cancer, Digestion,
Immunity and Spread of Infection, Fluid, Protein Balance and More.
The lumps that you feel in your neck or under your jaw when you have
a cold or a sore throat are called lymph nodes. Inflamed or enlarged
lymph nodes can be a sign of a wide variety of disease conditions,
ranging from a simple cold all the way to cancer. The location of
the affected lymph nodes is often a good clue as to where the
problem lies.
The lymphatic system is present throughout the body. In fact, the
lymph system vessels are just as extensive as those of the
circulatory system.
The lymphatic system is a complex network of thin vessels, valves,
ducts, nodes and organs (for example the tonsils, spleen, and
thymus). It helps to protect and maintain the fluid environment of
the body by producing, filtering and conveying lymph, and by
producing various immune blood cells. Lymph is a clear liquid
containing white blood cells, proteins, salts, and water.
Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped glands located throughout the
body, all having the same function. The average human body has some
500-600 lymph nodes, with clusters found in the neck, armpits,
chest, abdomen, and groin. They are part of the body's immune system
and play an important part in the body's defense against infection:
they help to destroy infectious agents and produce antibodies that
will help prevent the same infection from occurring again in the
future.
Each part of the body is served by its own network of lymph vessels,
which drain into specific lymph nodes. For example, the arms and
breasts drain into the lymph nodes under the armpits.
Causes and Development
Lymph nodes are filters that can catch malignant tumor cells or
infectious organisms. When they do, lymph nodes increase in size and
are easily felt. Swelling can occur even if the infection is trivial
or not apparent.
Swelling of lymph nodes generally results from localized or systemic
infection, abscess formation, or malignancy; other causes of
enlarged lymph nodes are extremely rare. By far the most common
cause of lymph node enlargement is infection. As a rule, when
swelling appears suddenly and is painful, it is usually caused by
injury or an infection. Enlargement that comes on gradually and
painlessly may result from malignancy or tumor.
Common causes of enlarged lymph nodes (and their usual location):
Localized infection (nodes serving that part of the body)
Infectious mononucleosis (armpits, behind the ears or neck)
Rubella, also known as German measles (behind the ears)
Chickenpox (behind the ears, back of the neck, armpits)
Mumps (salivary glands)
Tuberculosis (above the collar bone)
Ear infections or sore throat (neck glands, sometimes)
Infection in the scalp (behind the ears or in back of the head)
Impacted tooth / swollen gums (under the jaw)
HIV or AIDS (neck, armpits, groin)
Cat-scratch disease (often armpit nodes because scratches are
usually on the arms/hands)
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (anywhere)
Serum sickness (near the site of injection, head, neck)
Leukemia, Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) (generalized
lymphadenopathy – throughout the body)
Hodgkin's disease (neck, armpits, and/or groin)
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (neck, armpits, and/or groin)
Canker sores (under the jaw)
Herpes zoster / shingles (neck, armpit, or groin)
Certain medications, such as the anti-seizure medication phenytoin,
certain antimalarial drugs, sulfa drugs, iodine, penicillin (near
the site of administration, or anywhere)
Certain vaccinations, such as smallpox, typhoid,
measles-mumps-rubella (near the site of vaccination, armpit)
Salivary duct stones
Sporotrichosis (fungal infection of the skin) (near site of
infection)
Signs and Symptoms
When lymph nodes are actively fighting infection, they may become
swollen and painful as they produce and store large numbers of
antibodies. Usually, the pain is mild, and the lymph node does not
get much bigger than 2 centimeters (slightly under 1 inch) in size.
Common areas where enlarged lymph nodes can be felt (palpable nodes)
include the groin area (inguinal region), armpit (axilla), the neck
(there is a chain of lymph nodes on either side of the front of the
neck, both sides of the neck, and down each side of the back of the
neck), under the jaw and chin, behind the ears, and over the occiput
(prominence on the back of the head). There are also lymph nodes
that cannot be felt, in the abdomen, pelvis and chest.
Lymphangitis is a viral or bacterial infection in the lymphatic
vessels which is characterized by painful, red streaks below the
skin surface. This is a potentially serious infection which can
rapidly spread to the bloodstream and be fatal. Aside from enlarged
lymph nodes, other symptoms may include chills, fever, malaise, poor
appetite, headache, and muscle aches.
Diagnosis and Tests
Any persistently swollen lymph gland requires careful diagnostic
study. Since enlarged lymph nodes are often near the source of
infection, their location can help determine the cause.
While lymph nodes are the most common cause of a lump or a bump
under the skin, there are other less common causes which should be
ruled out:
* lipomas (harmless fatty growths)
* benign cysts
* normal breast tissue (breast tissue extends into the armpit area)
* cysts and superficial infections in the skin of the armpit after
shaving or use of antiperspirants (which block pores)
* subcutaneous abscesses may produce large painful lumps in the
armpits or elsewhere
* cysts from abnormalities of fetal development
* thyroid gland enlargement
A doctor can usually tell the difference upon physical examination.
Treatment and Prevention
Treatment of enlarged lymph nodes involves identifying the
underlying medical condition and treating that. For example, a lump
in the armpit caused by breast cancer is treated by following the
appropriate cancer treatment.
Generally, if you have symptoms of a cold or other minor infection,
give the glands about 2 weeks to go back to normal. No specific
treatment is needed. If the glands are small (less than 2cm or ¾
inch across), are in your groin or under the chin, and you are a
young adult, this is considered normal. Children tend to have a more
active lymphatic system, so their glands may feel enlarged from time
to time.
Prognosis; Seek medical attention if...
Soreness in lymph glands usually disappears in a couple of days
without treatment. Glands become painful due to the rapid swelling
of the gland in the early stages of fighting the infection. It takes
much longer for the gland to return to normal size than it did to
enlarge.
A lump in the armpit or elsewhere caused by a generalized viral
infection will eventually disappear without therapy. A lump caused
by an allergic reaction will go away after the allergen is removed.
Call your health care provider if:
* after several weeks of observation the glands do not get smaller
* swollen glands are red and tender
* glands are hard, fixed to the skin, or are growing rapidly
* swollen glands are located behind the ear and there is also a
scalp infection
* symptoms such as weight loss, night sweats, fatigue, or prolonged
fever are also present
* one or more glands get larger over a period of 2-3 weeks.
