Adenophlegmon: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

Before understanding what adenophlegmon is, it is first worth considering what doctors call phlegmon (without the prefix adeno-).

Phlegmon is an acute, purulent inflammatory process occurring in the subcutaneous fat. At the same time, it does not have clear boundaries, they are kind of blurred. Adenophlegmon, unlike simple phlegmon, is localized in the area of the lymph nodes, affecting them with abscessing inflammation. The most common areas of damage are the supra- and submandibular areas, the chin sector and the ear-jaw.

Causes of adenophlegmon

The etiology of this disease is simple. As a result of a previous illness or for some other reason, the body reduces its protective qualities. Against this background, the lymphatic system with a complex of lymph nodes loses its barrier-protective functions, where lymph is processed (reticuloendothelial cells capture and break down (absorb) pathogenic flora and unrecognized defective cells). When the nodes become inflamed, the outflow is blocked. Pathogenic microorganisms and the antigen products they secrete are able to seep through the walls of the lymph nodes into nearby cells, thereby provoking the development of inflammation there. That is, the causes of adenophlegmon are different, but the result is the same - the formation, due to the infection, of a purulent-inflammatory capsule in the area of the lymph node.

The catalyst for this disease can be:

• Soft tissue injury.
• Past infectious disease.
• Inflammatory processes of a dermatological nature.
• Unresolved dental problems.
• Inflammation of the lymphoid apparatus of the pharyngeal ring.
• Diseases of the genitourinary system.

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Symptoms of adenophlegmon

Having considered the symptoms of adenophlegmon, do not forget that only a specialist can make a final diagnosis, but also draw up a treatment protocol. You only need to recognize the onset of the disease in time and see a doctor.

• Rapidly increasing signs of intoxication of the body.
• The appearance of a tumor that is initially slightly noticeable, but over time grows and increases in size, in the areas where the lymph nodes are localized.
• Pain when palpating the swelling.
• Clearly expressed hyperemia in the center of the tumor.
• The swelling is dense, with signs indicating the presence of fluid in the pathological cavities (fluctuation).
• Multiple small hemorrhages on the skin and mucous membranes are partially visible.
• Children become lethargic, inhibited. Their sweating increases sharply.
• Often, children also experience concomitant diseases (diathesis, pneumonia, otitis, etc.).
• If hygiene rules are not followed, there is a possibility of infection during injection.
• In later stages of the disease, a “ripe” abscess can break through the skin.
• Temperature reaction is possible.

With further progression of the disease, complications may arise due to the fact that the inflammatory process gradually begins to capture new anatomical areas, affecting vital organs. In this case, such pathological conditions as sepsis, inflammation of the cerebral cortex, as well as the development of life-threatening renal, hepatic, cardiac, pulmonary... failure may occur.

Adenophlegmon in children

Most often, adenophlegmon in children occurs between the ages of three and seven. In second place is a complication that develops secondarily, as a result of adenophlegmon that was not treated completely or was not treated at all - acute osteomyelitis of the jaw. Older children (12-14 years) often suffer from the primary form of phlegmon, the etiology of which is usually associated with soft tissue injuries or infection through wound channels.

The causative agents of the disease, especially in children, are most often pathogenic bacteria: streptococcus, white and golden staphylococcus, diplococcus and others.

If the child starts to be capricious, sleeps poorly and refuses to eat, while complaining of pain, parents should immediately consult a pediatrician, who, in turn, will refer them to a specialist. Against the background of the developing disease, an increase in body temperature is noted. The numbers can rise to critical levels - 40 ° C.

The diagnosis of adenophlegmon is made by a doctor based on a visual examination, clinical studies and taking into account the anamnesis. The child undergoes a course of treatment with surgical intervention in a hospital, under the supervision of doctors.

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Adenophlegmon of the submandibular region

Adenophlegmon of the submandibular region is the most common variant of the disease. The patient voices complaints of general malaise, painful swelling in the submandibular area. Subsequently, doctors find out that signs of trivial lymphadenitis (a painful dense ball that appeared in the area of the lymph node, which increased in size over time) were previously observed.

The clinical picture of adenophlegmon is similar to that of common phlegmon. The doctor notes large hyperemic edema, infiltrates and other symptoms of the disease. When the lower submandibular triangle is affected, there are obvious disorders of the speech apparatus and physiological functions - pain when swallowing, opening and closing the mouth.

Laboratory studies show a significant increase in ESR in the blood (sometimes the value reaches 50 mm/h), an increase in the number of leukocytes and neutrophils, which indicates an acute inflammatory process in the body.

Quite often, a patient has undergone treatment for a dental disease for several weeks. The treatment is over, the dentist has no complaints about the patient's teeth and gums. However, against this background, a mobile dense nodule begins to form in the submandibular region, gradually increasing in size and becoming painful. At the same time, a consultation with an otolaryngologist (ENT) does not give any results. The patient does not complain about ENT organs and the doctor does not find pathological changes in the mouth - ear - throat organs. And the reason for all this is the formation and development of adenophlegmon of the submandibular region.

One of the causes of inflammation can be a wisdom tooth. If you count the total number of teeth in an adult, there should be eight on each side of the central dental gap, both on the upper and lower jaw. If there are seven teeth, then most likely the wisdom tooth (the missing eighth one) has grown and is located pathologically incorrectly in the thickness of the periosteum, being a source of inflammation and a breeding ground for infection. This fact can be confirmed or refuted by an X-ray image.

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Adenophlegmon of the neck

Environmental pollution, the decrease in the general immunity of the population against this background leads to an exacerbation and increase in the number of diseases, including adenophlegmon of the neck. This can be explained by the increasing number of strains and modifications of pathogenic flora that infects the scalp, as well as the oral cavity, especially if hygiene rules are not observed.

It provokes an impetus for the development of inflammation of the lymph nodes that are important for a person in the neck area, large connections of the nervous and vascular systems, a decrease in the protective functions of the body and the presence of pathogenic bacteria.

The lymph nodes located in the chin area are of great importance in the development of this disease. They are very closely connected to the submandibular and deep cervical lymph nodes. Many limited spaces are also formed here, "suitable for accumulation and localization" of purulent masses (the area of the lateral and anterior neck area). The causative agents of the disease, as in the case of children, are the same bacteria.

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Adenophlegmon of the inguinal region

It is necessary to take care of your health from a young age. Everyone knows this wise proverb, but not everyone follows it. It is no secret that any, even seemingly minor cold can provoke the development of a purulent inflammatory process in the lymph nodes. And prolonged periodic exposure to cold can lead to serious chronic diseases. For example, severe prolonged hypothermia of the lower extremities can become the starting point in the development of adenophlegmon of the groin area.

In this disease, a purulent inflammatory process develops in the lymph nodes of the inguinal region, where pathogenic microorganisms are activated, causing symptoms of the acute form of the disease. Usually, a progressive large focus is formed, which also captures the deep soft tissues of the inguinal zone. Quite often, the disease cannot be completely stopped even with the use of antibiotics and the inflammatory process turns into a sluggish chronic condition. Therefore, in order to avoid the development of this scenario, doctors resort to surgical intervention in this case.

In order to prevent the disease from progressing to a later acute phase, it is necessary to know the symptoms that should alert you and make you seek immediate medical help. The symptoms of inguinal adenophlegmon are identical to the manifestation of the disease in other areas of localization of the lymph nodes.

Women, as a rule, are less susceptible to the disease of this localization. But if it happens, and the disease has come, it would not be superfluous to see a gynecologist to exclude further infection of the fundus of the uterus, vagina... and then the ovaries. If you do not take urgent measures and do not start treatment, the risk of female infertility increases sharply. The same infectious disease can provoke the appearance of uterine cancer.

The inguinal lymph nodes are easy to find even in a normal healthy state. They are located in the lateral region and above the pubic bone, as well as on the bend of the groin and leg - these are small pea-sized seals. The occurrence of adenophlegmon is provoked by an infection that can get to these lymph nodes through large blood arteries located in close proximity.

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Adenophlegmon of the axillary region

A provoking factor in the occurrence of primary phlegmon of the axillary localization can be a purulent process that developed as a result of infection of a wound or abrasion located in the area of the upper limbs. And as a result, adenophlegmon of the axillary region is formed (the most common type of abscesses in this area). The development of this disease is provoked by clusters of lymph nodes located in the axillary region and nodal junctions of large arteries of blood vessels, through which the infection enters the lymphatic system from the site of primary infection.

It is not difficult to recognize this disease. The armpit is accessible for examination and pulping, which facilitates diagnosis. Often, lymphadenitis occurs initially - a painful swelling when touched, and if the patient consults a doctor at this stage of the disease, then adenophlegmon, inflammation manifested by purulent discharge, can be avoided. Otherwise, the patient's condition worsens, the number of leukocytes in the blood increases, and the temperature continues to rise. With all this, the contours of the tumor begin to blur, losing clarity. The lymph nodes that make up the group grow in size, uniting into dense painful conglomerates. Now, most likely, surgery cannot be avoided.

Diagnosis of adenophlegmon

It will not be difficult for a specialist to diagnose adenophlegmon:

• Conducting a clinical examination based on the symptoms of the disease.
• Identification of the patient's anamnesis.
• If necessary, an ultrasound examination (ultrasound) is prescribed.
• X-ray is performed as prescribed by a doctor. Since the cause of inflammation may be not only adenophlegmon, but also a jaw cyst, malignant neoplasms, etc.
• Laboratory tests.

It is also necessary to distinguish adenophlegmon from phlegmon, tuberculosis, actinomycosis. The main distinctive feature of the disease in question is the acute form of the inflammatory process with pronounced symptoms. While with tuberculosis the process is sluggish, severe pain does not bother, the patient's well-being is often satisfactory.

Treatment of adenophlegmon

If the doctor makes a diagnosis, then treatment of adenophlegmon takes place only in a hospital and includes several stages:

• Surgical intervention. Children undergo it under general anesthesia, while adults endure it under local anesthesia. If the source of infection is a tooth, it is either removed or depulped, cleaning the dental canal and closing it and the tooth itself with a filling. Only then do they move on to the next stage. An incision is made in the skin and fat layer (if necessary). In most cases, pus comes out of the capsule on its own under internal pressure. Additional cleaning of the pus-filled area is not required. Next, a bandage is applied, which is changed daily.
• Drug therapy. The patient then receives complex treatment: antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial support, general tonics.
• In parallel with medications, the postoperative wound is treated with special antiseptic solutions.

Prevention of adenophlegmon

• The main rule that is assumed for the prevention of adenophlegmon is the timely treatment of any inflammatory and infectious diseases until the patient has fully recovered.
• And we should not forget about strengthening the immune system, both in children and adults.
• Preventive examinations at the clinic.

Prognosis of adenophlegmon

The prognosis for adenophlegmon in case of timely contact with a specialist and implementation of the entire range of measures for the treatment of the disease is definitely favorable. The main thing is not to be afraid and contact a specialist in time. The use of antibiotics at the initial stage of the disease will prevent the acute form of abscess, protect against further complications.

Life is a wonderful thing. And I would not want to waste it on hospitals and fighting diseases. It is much easier to prevent these trips with a healthy lifestyle without bad habits, a balanced diet and psychological comfort. But you will not be able to completely enclose yourself in a sterile capsule, and if you differentiate the painful symptoms that have appeared, then you should immediately sign up for an examination with a specialist. Adenophlegmon is not a death sentence. It responds well to treatment, the main thing is not to miss this opportunity. Otherwise, the result may be unpredictable.