What is Lymphadenopathy or Enlarged Lymph nodes and what are its causes ?
When the Lymph nodes are enlarged in size, it is called as lymphadenopathy.  The enlargement can either be inflammatory or non inflammatory. Lymph nods are small glands present at special locations all over the body.
They help in the protection against infections and cancers. The lymph nodes are the home to the white blood cells which act as policemen in the body fighting against bad guys or the germs. The lymph nodes are mostly present along the blood vessels and play an important role in the immunity of the body against diseases.
Majority of swellings in the neck or the cervical region are actually swollen lymph nodes due to any infection in the ear nose or throat. Cervical Lymphadenopathy is more common due to the abundance of lymph nodes in the cervical or the neck region and also due to minor throat infections which themselves are very common. The lymph nodes prevent the infections to spread to other parts of the body and also work hard for the early recovery from various diseases.
Lymphadenopathy can be acute or chronic depending upon the duration of the enlargement of the lymph nodes. It is called acute when the duration is short and is called as chronic when the duration of the lymphadenopathy is long.
Common locations of lymph node enlargement or lymphadenopathy are supraclavicular ( above the clavicle), submandibular ( below the jaw), inguinal ( in the groin area), axillary ( in the armpits), cervical( in the neck), hilar ( in the chest), and mesenteric ( in the abdomen). Sometimes it is generalised and can involve all the lymph nodes of the body.
Lymphadenopathy Causes:
What are the causes of enlarged lymph nodes?
Common causes of lymphadenopathy or enlarged lymph nods are:
These causes are mostly associated with fever of variable duration along with the enlarged lymph nodes or lymphadenopathy
- Acute Lymphadenitis
- Chronic Lymphadenitis
- Septic
- Tuberculosis (Tubercular lymphadenitis)
- Syphilis
- Filariasis
- Lymphogranuloma inguinale
Cancers like the breast cancer can present with enlarged lymph nodes or lymphadenopathy.
- Primary: Lymphosarcoma
- Secondary:
- Carcinoma
- Sarcoma
- Malignant melanoma
Haematological:
- Hodgkin’s disease
- Non Hodgkin’s disease
- Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
- AIDS
Immunological:
- Serum sickness
- Drug reaction
- SLE and RA
To know the more about lymphadenpathy or any other disease, you can always fell free to Ask a Doctor. |
