swollen lymph nodes in children

Illness child - the most unpleasant that may be. But if the common cold or chicken pox do not pose any threat to the child, some other illness in the absence of proper attention from parents can lead to very negative consequences for the child's body.

One such disease is an inflammation of the lymph nodes or lymphadenitis. It occurs in the event that the body of the child exerts a pathogenic effect any infection. After all the lymph nodes is none other than the protective barriers of the body. Strictly speaking, lymphadenitis often not an independent disease, but rather evidence of the underlying disease. For example, inflamed cervical lymph nodes in children may indicate the presence of a sore throat or laryngitis. Very often, swollen lymph nodes in the neck mumps.

Swollen lymph nodes in the following way. At a time when bacteria penetrate the lymphatic channels to lymph nodes, the latter receiving information carried by immune cells begin producing cells designed to fight infection. During this process, there is a significant increase in the size of lymph nodes.

In severe cases, the lymph nodes are not able to handle the load, resulting in severe inflammation. Sometimes it can develop purulent process - not just increased lymph nodes, and even the skin becomes reddened and edematous.

In some cases, the inflammation is a secondary disease, but in some cases can be a primary. In this case, the penetration of the infection occurs in the lymph nodes directly, bypassing the internal organs. This happens most frequently in violation of the integrity of skin - all sorts of scrapes and other wounds. Very often inflamed lymph nodes as a result of the cat scratches.

Typically, in such cases, the disease begins with a pronounced general oppressed condition of the body, pain in the area affected lymph nodes, very often the sick child's body temperature rises and can even be observed symptoms of intoxication. Parents should immediately seek medical help, and in any case not to take any action yourself. The only thing you can do before the arrival of doctors is to give antipyretic drugs. And only when the body temperature is above 39 degrees.

Despite the fact that most perpetrators of inflammatory processes in lymph nodes are namely infection, yet there are cases where the fault are malignancies. In that case, if the body has cancer, lymph nodes take over the function of the so-called "biological filter", preventing the cancer cells actively spread throughout the body. This explains the fact that the removal of tumors and metastases always removed all the nearby lymph nodes. This greatly reduces the risk of relapse - a recurrence of cancer. The same applies to cases of leukemia - exposure units is mandatory for the successful treatment of the child.

Of course, in most cases, the reason that the enlarged cervical lymph nodes in the child, and any other is banal inflammation. However, with the inflammatory process must be fought only under strict medical supervision. If something goes wrong treatment, the doctor will immediately notice this and take necessary measures.

Before we tell you more about what a group of inflamed lymph nodes in specific diseases, should acquaint the reader with the morphology of the human lymphatic system. The formation of the lymphatic system finally completed only after the birth of the child. Newborn baby capsule, which contains lymph nodes, thin, and tubercles are still underdeveloped. Themselves nodes is very small, palpation hardly noticeable, because they have a very, very soft consistency.

At about 6 months of life is not only an increase in the size of lymph nodes, but also increase their number. Normal test the lymph nodes becomes possible only by the end of the first year of a child's life. On palpation should take into account the fact that the formation of lymph nodes in children of the first years of life is not complete - the valves are not fully formed in their place - the waist. That is why the lymph nodes palpation have a clear, pronounced a specific structure.

For about 3 years of connecting to the lymph node capsule becomes pronounced, with splashes of reticular cells. And for 8 years in the lymph nodes begin a process of formation of tubercles, and other lymphatic vessels. The number of lymph nodes continued to increase until the beginning of puberty, then the reverse process. The largest number of nodes in the child is around the age of 10 years.

To carry out its protective function and respond to the penetration of infectious agents lymph nodes begin approximately three months of baby's life. At the age of one and a half years while the process is suspended due to generalization of infection.

Lymphadenitis occur most frequently in children aged 5 - 7 years, since this is the age lymph nodes are a powerful barrier to the various infectious agents. Also, it is at this age up to 70% of purulent lymphadenitis. And only 8 - 9 years in the body acquires the ability to suppress infection in the lymph node, and their festering there are less and less.

Swollen lymph nodes in various diseases

 cervical lymph nodes in children

As mentioned earlier, often the lymph nodes increase in various infectious diseases and diseases of the internal organs. For example, the occipital lymph nodes in children increases in diseases such as:

  • Toxoplasmosis.
  • Infectious mononucleosis.
  • Rash morbilliform.
  • Rubella.

The above are only the most common diseases. When toxoplasmosis increases not only the occipital lymph nodes, but sometimes the groin. The rate of lymph node can be up to the size of a hazelnut. However, despite this, the nodes usually palpation soft, painless. Almost never suppurate and quickly come to a normal state.

If your child becomes ill with infectious mononucleosis, an increase in almost all groups of lymph nodes, but is most clearly expressed in the inflammatory process is the lymph nodes at the back of the child. Enlarged lymph nodes are visible even without palpation, a child often present lymphedema and swelling of the face, pronounced pain.

Much the same thing happens in the case if the child falls ill with rubella. Lymph nodes increase in size and are painful when pressed. Suppuration of lymph nodes almost never happens, but lymphadenitis - a very widespread consequence of rubella.

Lymph nodes in the groin in children inflamed when damaged integrity of the skin of feet. Very often, the inflammation does not develop immediately after the damage to the skin, and after two - three weeks. The infection enters the lymph node, and some time is inactive. And only after a while begins to swell up a lymph node. In some cases, the body copes with the infection and swelling resolves own. But in some cases, inguinal lymph nodes in children may need help and nagnivat surgeon. It is very important to pay attention to all the damage the integrity of the skin and immediately process them properly. This will help prevent a situation where small scratch turns into a big headache. Also cause inflammation of the lymph nodes in the groin, children may be:

  • Heavy pelёnochnogo for dermatitis with multiple ulcerations of the skin.
  • Have boils in the buttocks.
  • In some cases, inflammation of lymph nodes may arise as a result of BCG vaccination, including
  • If the vaccine has been administered to the thigh.

In addition, the lymph nodes in the head of the child are increased in the presence of inflammation in the middle and outer ear, scalp abrasions, in some cases, allergic dermatitis. Typically, in this case, enlarged lymph nodes are observed for ears of children. Also, swollen lymph nodes in the head of a child occurs in diphtheria of the tonsils or streptococcal sore throat - these cases are considered the most dangerous to the health of the baby. In that case there abscesses and other dental diseases, various stomatitis - an inflammation of lymph nodes in the chin area.

Underarm lymph nodes inflamed in children with different diseases and injuries of the skin in the arm and shoulder. In most cases, the cause of the inflammation becomes a so-called "cat scratch disease". In medicine, the disease is called "benign limforetikulёz." Proceeds disease as follows: after the cat scratched the child, there is an inflammation of the lymph node, which is the closest to scratch, which is a gateway for infection. If the child scratched the cat, the wound should be immediately processed or iodine and brilliant green which - while carefully monitor the condition of the baby. In some cases, toxoplasmosis can also be accompanied by inflammation of the lymph nodes under the armpits in children.

If you notice swollen lymph nodes in children, treatment should begin immediately and only on prescription and under his strict control. Typically, in those cases where lymphadenitis started due to infection very effectively help antibiotics. Lymph nodes quickly return to their normal size, pain disappears, and the blood counts return to normal.

Very often the parents, on the advice of friends, starting to warm up to all kinds of way inflamed lymph nodes. However, to do that in any case it is impossible, because it can cause even the strongest festering and infection. That is why the heating is allowed to spend only on prescription, and only in a medical institution.

If you have inflamed lymph nodes in children, treatment should be aimed not at the lymph node itself, but primarily on the underlying disease. Unfortunately, in some cases, the doctor can make a diagnosis only on the basis of complaints of the parents and the child, and sometimes the test results do not clarify the picture. In this case, the physician must assign the affected lymph node ultrasound, as well as internal organs - the spleen, liver, abdominal lymph nodes. If you still fail to put the diagnosis, the doctor ordered an X-ray study, research on latent TB infection for.

If the doctor suspects the presence of pathogens in the blood of a child with CMV, herpes, or toxoplasmosis, he ordered a laboratory serology blood. But if it does not clarify the nature of the inflammation of the lymph node, the only way out is still holding a puncture and subsequent lymph node biopsy.

In any case, the parents in any case should not be ignored inflammation of the lymph nodes. Of course, panic and should not be afraid, because often the cause of the inflammation completely banal and easily treatable. However, there are times when to do without medical care simply can not. Of course, parents can not objectively assess the condition of the child and the cause of the disease. It is much wiser to allow the diagnosis and treatment of doctors.

 Lymph nodes in children

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