Lymph Node: Also sometimes referred to as lymph glands, which helps fight viruses or bacteria that cause infection.
There are approximately 600 nodes from head to toe! They can be found anywhere in the body and are strategically located where bacteria are most commonly found.
A lymph node is a small, round or bean-shaped cluster of cells covered by a capsule of connective tissue.
The cells are a combination of lymphocytes — which produce protein particles that capture invaders, such as viruses — and macrophages, which break down the captured material. Lymphocytes and macrophages filter your lymphatic fluid as it travels through your body and protect you by destroying invaders.
Lymph nodes are located in groups, and each group drains a specific area of your body. You may be more likely to notice swelling in certain areas, such as in the lymph nodes in your neck, under your chin, in your armpits and in your groin. The site of the swollen lymph nodes may help identify the underlying cause.
Lumps may occur when lymph nodes are swollen due to bacterial or viral infections. However, there are many possible causes of swollen lymph nodes. For more serious cases, treatment of swollen lymph nodes involves treating the underlying cause.
Symptoms:
Lymphoma can occur in children and adults, and symptoms are similar.
- swelling in the upper body lymph nodes (it may be associated with pain or without pain).
- Unusual tiredness or lack of energy.
- Fevers and Chills.
- Persistent itch all over the body without an apparent cause or rash.
- night sweats.
- Weight loss.
Causes:
Causes of Lymphoma are not very clear, but there are some factors that may increase the chance of a disease, such as:
01. Genetics.
02.Immune Diseases.
03. Viral infection (Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) — the virus that causes AIDS and Hepatitis C).
04. Bacterial Infection.
05. Exposure to chemicals, such as pesticides, fertilizers, and solvents.
Diagnosis:
To diagnose what might be causing your swollen lymph nodes your doctor may need:
Your medical history. In addition, your doctor will want to know when and how your swollen lymph nodes developed and if you have any other signs or symptoms.
A physical exam. Your doctor will also want to check lymph nodes near the surface of your skin for size, tenderness, warmth and texture. The site of your swollen lymph nodes and your other signs and symptoms will offer clues to the underlying cause.
Blood tests. Depending on what your doctor suspects is causing your swollen lymph nodes, certain blood tests may be done to confirm or exclude the suspected underlying condition.
The specific tests will depend on the suspected cause, but most likely will include a complete blood count (CBC), which helps evaluate your overall health and detect a range of disorders, including infections such as mononucleosis and leukemia.
Imaging studies. A chest X-ray or computerized tomography (CT) scan of the affected area may help determine potential sources of infection or find tumors.
Lymph node biopsy. If your doctor can't pin down the diagnosis, it may be helpful to remove a sample from a lymph node or even an entire lymph node for microscopic examination.
Treatment:
Swollen glands caused by cancer require treatment for the cancer. Depending on the type of cancer, treatment may involve surgery, radiation or chemotherapy.
Prevention:
The best means of prevention is to raise awareness about the disease (know the most important symptoms and signs of infection) and, God willing, that will help in early diagnosis and then treatment, and to try to stay away from the causes of this type of cancer such as avoiding exposure to chemicals and others.
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