The human body has many lymph glands that protect against various harmful microorganisms and viruses. Inflamed lymph nodes in the neck can indicate either a common cold or a serious illness, one of which is cervical lymphadenitis.
Pathology is not an independent disease. This is only a concomitant illness that accompanies multiple infectious diseases. If the lymph nodes in the neck are enlarged, we can say that the body is affected by some kind of infection or that a pathology of the lymphatic system is developing.
There are isolated cases when lymphadenitis occurs as an independent disease: the infection enters the lymphatic network through mechanical damage to the skin or mucous membrane. If you do not seek medical help in a timely manner, serious infectious complications such as sepsis or adenophlegmon may develop.
Lymph nodes are part of the immune system and neutralize negative bacteria and viruses that enter the body. With an increase in the number of harmful microorganisms, the lymph nodes cannot cope with their task, as a result of which they begin to become inflamed.
Based on their location on the neck, they are divided into several types:
- parotid;
- occipital;
- anterior and posterior cervical;
- chin;
- submandibular;
- preauricular;
- tonsillar.
In normal condition, the lymph nodes cannot be palpated. One such node is about one centimeter in diameter.
Inflamed anterior cervical lymph node.
Many factors can contribute to the onset of the inflammatory process of the cervical lymph nodes.
More common reasons include:
- Pathologies of an infectious nature: ARVI, sore throat, influenza, otitis media, periodontitis and others.
- Accidental damage or injury to lymph nodes or tissues around them.
- Cancerous degeneration of cells.
- Decreased immunity. Hypothermia and severe stress contribute to the rapid proliferation of pathogenic cells in the body.
Much less often, the lymph nodes in the neck can become inflamed for the following reasons:
- allergic reaction;
- alcoholism;
- pathologies of the thyroid gland;
- improper metabolism.
It should be noted that penetration of the pathogen is possible only in three ways:
- contact;
- hematogenous;
- lymphogenous.
Thus, once in the lymph node, the infection begins to actively reproduce.
Classification of the disease and its symptoms
Cervical lymphadenitis is divided into:
- acute: characteristic signs of this type are severe pain and redness of the lymph nodes;
- chronic: its development begins from the moment a weakly virulent microflora penetrates the node, when the acute process remains untreated, an enlargement of the lymph nodes is observed, but the pain is not severe or may be completely absent.
Based on the nature of the inflammatory process, the following types of pathology are distinguished:
- catarrhal – the initial stage of the disease, the lymph nodes are saturated with blood;
- hyperplastic - formed at a late stage of the disease, when the enlargement of the lymph nodes occurs as a result of the rapid formation of immune cells in them;
- purulent - its development is possible when the process is bacterial in nature, and the lymph node is filled with a large amount of pyogenic microflora.
The main signs of cervical lymphadenitis include:
- elevated temperature;
- tissue swelling;
- presence of infiltrate;
- pain in the area of the lymph nodes when palpated;
- headache;
- decreased appetite;
- general weakness and other signs of intoxication.
In children, the disease in many cases can be accompanied by symptoms such as fever, tearfulness, and weakness. The main thing is to detect the pathology in time and consult a specialist, since lymphadenitis in childhood can provoke a complication such as sepsis.
Treatment of lymph nodes at home
Inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck is a secondary form of the disease, so treatment should be aimed at eliminating the root cause of the pathology. And you can get rid of lymphadenitis only by removing the infection and increasing immunity.
As therapeutic measures, it is possible to use both traditional therapy and folk methods.
Traditional medicine
Ultrahigh-frequency therapy has been widely used to treat pathology. This is a technique that affects the body using an ultra-strong frequency electromagnetic field.
Anti-inflammatory drugs can only be taken as prescribed by your doctor, as they have many side effects and contraindications. These drugs include: Deltasone, Medron, Prednisol.
Taking antibiotics is possible if the inflammation is caused by a bacterial infection or with a purulent complication.
Catarrhal and hyperplastic forms of inflammation imply the use of conservative treatment on an outpatient basis.
- Rest the affected area.
- Take broad-spectrum antibiotics – 1-3 generation cephalosporins; anti-inflammatory – Diclofenac, Nimesulide; multivitamins – Vitrum, Duovit; absorbable agents – Serta.
- Use local compresses with Dimexide in the ratio: 1 part of the drug to 4 parts of water.
In the purulent stage of inflammation, the node is opened, the surface of the wound is treated with an antiseptic solution and drained. Subsequent treatment is the same as for a purulent wound. Systemic antibiotics may be prescribed to eliminate intoxication.
Folk remedies
It is important to remember that the use of traditional methods can either help in treatment and speed up the healing process, or cause harm.
Various infusions and decoctions are not able to completely get rid of the disease, but they can significantly alleviate the condition.
There are proven recipes that have repeatedly proven their effectiveness:
- Echinacea tincture. It is a good antiseptic and the most effective remedy. 10 drops must be diluted with 50 milliliters of boiled water. Take 4 times during the day.
- Aloe juice. Take one tablespoon of freshly squeezed juice orally daily.
- Chamomile, mint, calendula. A decoction is prepared from these herbs and is intended for gargling. Procedures must be carried out at least four times a day. In addition, tea can be brewed from the collection.
- Dried Canadian goldenseal. To take, one spoon of powder is diluted in a glass of water. It is recommended to drink the drink every day. At the same time, fermented milk products should be present in the diet, since such a drink can provoke an upset stomach.
- Salt and soda. Dilute half a teaspoon of both components in 200 milliliters of hot water. After cooling the solution, gargle several times throughout the day.
- Green jadeite. The stone should be the size of an inflamed lymph node. It is applied to the affected area for 10 minutes. This is done several times a day.
- Massage with the addition of essential oils: eucalyptus, lavender and tea tree. Take one part of each and dissolve in olive oil (20 parts). Perform movements carefully, from top to bottom along the neck.
The main thing is that the use of any folk remedy must be agreed with the attending physician, otherwise you can harm your health and provoke complications.
What is forbidden to do if the lymph nodes in the neck are enlarged?
Self-treatment of cervical lymphadenitis using traditional medicine without consulting a specialist can lead to very sad consequences. Lymph nodes are not to be trifled with. If a lump appears and pain occurs when you touch this area, it is strictly forbidden to expose this area to heat. Heating leads to the growth and rapid spread of infectious pathogens; through the bloodstream they enter neighboring organs, not excluding the brain.
In addition, heat exposure can provoke metastasis of malignant neoplasms, and enlarged lymph nodes sometimes indicate the growth of cancer cells in them.
If treatment of the acute form is not started in time, the inflammation can become chronic, accompanied by generalization, scarring of lymphoid tissue and its replacement with connective elements that are not able to perform protective functions.
Preventive actions
As a rule, it is better to prevent a disease than to treat it later. Therefore, one should not neglect the prevention of inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck.
In order to prevent pathology, you just need to follow simple recommendations:
- monitor the state of the immune system;
- carry out procedures to harden the body;
- treat acute diseases caused by infections in a timely manner;
- avoid hypothermia;
- Maintain personal hygiene and, if necessary, use a gauze bandage during the epidemic.
Thus, inflammation of the lymph node in the neck is a sign of a malfunction of the immune system. If you suspect a pathology, you should immediately seek medical help. At any stage of development of the disease, its treatment should be carried out only under the supervision of a doctor.
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