Cervical lymphadenitis

Cervical lymphadenitis is an inflammation of the cervical lymph nodes. Cervical lymphadenitis most often occurs in children and does not pose a great danger to them. However, if an adult is exposed to this disease, it is much more difficult to cure. The fact is that our lymphatic system is the first to react to external irritants, such as viruses and infections. Therefore, if you suddenly find seals on both sides of the neck, this is a clear sign that your body is fighting an infection and preventing it from spreading throughout the body, and it is time for you to start treatment.

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Causes of Cervical Lymphadenitis

The main cause of cervical lymphadenitis are pathogenic bacteria and viruses that provoke diseases such as flu, sore throat, rhinitis, tonsillitis and otitis. They penetrate our body to attack the immune system, but thanks to the protective functions of the body, they are blocked and localized in the lymph nodes. Their inflammation can acquire not only acute but also chronic form. Therefore, it is very important to diagnose this disease at an early stage, so as not to have to reap the fruits of an advanced infection. If you suddenly have suspicions about your health, make sure that you do not have symptoms of cervical lymphadenitis.

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Symptoms of cervical lymphadenitis

As mentioned earlier, with cervical lymphadenitis, seals form on the neck, and a small swelling can also be observed. When palpating it, the patient may feel pain. And when the disease progresses, the following symptoms become apparent:

• headache;
• general malaise;
• high temperature if the form of lymphadenitis is acute;
• loss of appetite;
• small children suffer from intoxication.

Cervical formations tend to increase in size at the stage of its development, but after the start of treatment, the swelling subsides within 1-3 weeks. Special attention should be paid to acute and chronic forms of cervical lymphadenitis, since the patient should be most afraid of them and not allow the disease to take its extreme form.

Acute cervical lymphadenitis

Acute cervical lymphadenitis manifests itself as a complication of the disease and is accompanied by very strong suppuration of the lymph nodes. The patient's temperature rises above 38 degrees. Its surface turns red and becomes more like a furuncle. As the disease progresses, the swelling of the lymphadenitis increases, and its contours lose clarity. The infection itself becomes less mobile to the touch. If such an inflammatory process is neglected, it can develop into an even more serious disease, such as adenoma or sepsis. Therefore, the problem must be taken very seriously.

Chronic cervical lymphadenitis

Chronic cervical lymphadenitis occurs with every disease in people whose immune system is very weak. It is enough for them to just catch a cold, and inflammation of the lymph nodes will not take long to appear. They also increase in size as in the acute form, but there is no such strong pain when palpating, and suppuration very rarely occurs. It should be noted that chronic cervical lymphadenitis can be one of the symptoms of such a serious disease as tuberculosis. Its bacteria enter the lymph nodes from the tuberculosis focus with the flow of blood or lymph.

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Cervical lymphadenitis in children

Cervical lymphadenitis in children, unfortunately, develops quite actively, but is not as dangerous as for adults. If the child is an infant, his lymph nodes are very difficult to palpate due to their small size. And after a year, palpation is a completely accessible procedure. The disease is characterized by the following symptoms:

• the child complains of a headache;
• his temperature rises above 38 degrees;
• intoxication often occurs, and infants are particularly susceptible to it;
• poor sleep and lack of appetite;
• severe swelling of the neck appears.

With chronic inflammation of the lymph nodes, the child feels well, and his temperature is normal. The neck practically does not hurt, but the lymph nodes are significantly enlarged - this can be determined by palpating the neck.

The consequences of neglected lymphadenitis of the cervical lymph nodes for a child can be very dangerous. The disease can cause myocarditis, the external manifestations of which are lethargy and pallor, as well as shortness of breath. It is very difficult for such children to gain weight, as they get tired even from feeding, and sometimes they can refuse to eat at all.

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Cervical lymphadenitis in adults

Cervical lymphadenitis in adults, despite similar symptoms, can be caused by completely different reasons than in children, and its consequences, without appropriate treatment, can be much more serious.

Cervical lymphadenitis in adults can be caused by the following ailments in the body, such as:

• acute diseases of the nasopharynx;
• metabolic disorders and thyroid dysfunction;
• alcohol abuse;
• pathological manifestations in connective tissues;
• individual allergic reactions to certain irritants;
• HIV and tuberculosis;
• oncological diseases.

And the simplest and most common causative agent of persistent cervical lymphadenitis is bacterial and viral infections.

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Diagnosis of cervical lymphadenitis

Diagnosis of cervical lymphadenitis is most often determined during examination by a doctor who performs palpation. Also, diagnosis of lymphadenitis of the cervical lymph nodes is carried out on the basis of data from previously conducted tests and a number of clinical and laboratory studies:

• biopsy of the diseased lymph node;
• X-ray of soft tissues of the submandibular area and neck;
• further research with histological analysis;
• computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

In any case, no matter what stage your disease is at, a doctor's examination is vital. Since no one else can give you answers to all your questions and prescribe an effective treatment that meets your needs.

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Treatment of cervical lymphadenitis

The regimen for cervical lymphadenitis is prescribed by the attending physician. If the patient suffers from a mild form of inflammation, then he is recommended to stay at home in warmth and peace, drink a lot of plain water and avoid drafts and low temperatures. But if the causative agent of the infection is the tuberculosis bacillus, then the patient needs urgent hospitalization and a hospital regimen with a specialized spectrum of anti-tuberculosis antibiotics.

Patients are also prescribed a diet. It is strictly forbidden to eat food rich in carbohydrates and trans-fatty acids. But the presence of fruits, vegetables, lean meat, fish, polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids in the daily diet will help cope with inflammatory processes in the body. It is also necessary to reduce the consumption of flour and dairy products and exclude sugar from the diet, as well as products containing it in large quantities.

Drug treatment of cervical lymphadenitis

It is necessary to start with determining the cause of the disease and eliminating the infectious focus. If cervical lymphadenitis is a consequence of viral diseases, such as tonsillitis, flu or acute respiratory infections, then the lymph nodes will recover along with the entire body without special drug treatment. And in other cases, anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed. This can be prednisolone and medrol:

• Medrol. Most recommendations for the use of this drug are due to its anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects. It is due to these two factors of the drug's action that it is possible to reduce the number of pathological cells in the inflammatory focus, and the restoration of cells in connective tissues occurs.

The standard dosage of Medrol depends on the specific disease and is approximately 4-48 mg/day, depending on the recommendations of the attending physician.

For children, Medrol is prescribed in combination with prednisolone and the dosage is calculated depending on its use (4 mg Medrol = 5 mg Prednisolone).

Medrol is contraindicated in case of allergic reactions to the components of the medication and in case of systemic fungal infections of any localization.

• Prednisolone. Its dosage is prescribed individually. The usual dose is 5-10 mg per day - this is 1-2 tablets. But in acute conditions, 20-30 mg per day is usually taken, that is, from 4 to 6 tablets.

Prednisolone is prescribed to children at the following rate: aged 2-12 months - 2-3 mg/kg; 1-14 years - 1-2 mg/kg intravenously slowly over three minutes. If necessary, the drug can be administered again after 20-30 minutes.

Prednisolone is contraindicated for hypertensive patients and pregnant women. It can also negatively affect the health of people suffering from diabetes, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer. In case of tuberculosis and infectious diseases, the drug should be used only in combination with antibiotics or special means for the treatment of tuberculosis.

It is also necessary to take immunostimulants - drugs that restore immunity, drugs with a high content of vitamin C and multivitamins.

If cervical lymphadenitis has become acute or chronic, if the lymph node becomes inflamed and suppuration occurs, then antibiotics are prescribed. Their specificity depends on the infectious agent.

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Physiotherapy for cervical lymphadenitis

This is one of the effective methods of treating inflammation of the lymph nodes. Physiotherapy procedures include such types as galvanization, medicinal electrophoresis and UHF therapy:

• Electrophoresis is a physiotherapeutic method of treatment performed by introducing various medications into the body using electric current. The introduction is carried out through intact skin and mucous membranes.
• Galvanization is a physiotherapeutic procedure in which the patient's body is exposed to a constant, continuous electric current through electrodes placed on the body, in the proportion in which it can provide benefits to the human body.
• UHF therapy is a special physiotherapy technique, with the help of which the patient's body is exposed to a high-frequency magnetic field with a wavelength of 1-10 meters. In this case, the patient feels the thermal effect of the procedure.

Surgical treatment of cervical lymphadenitis

If medication and physiotherapy treatment of inflammation of the lymph nodes have not yielded any results, surgical intervention is necessary. Thus, an operation is performed, during which the suppuration is opened, pus and affected connective tissues are removed, and then the wound is drained.

Treatment of cervical lymphadenitis with folk methods at home

If cervical lymphadenitis is caused by a bacterial infection and is one of the symptoms of a cold or flu, then some folk medicine recipes can be very effective in its treatment:

• Drinking and compress will help with cervical lymphadenitis. You need to buy an alcohol tincture of echinacea at the pharmacy. To prepare the drink, dilute 20-40 drops of echinacea in half a glass of water and drink three times a day, regardless of meals. To make a compress, dilute the tincture in a 1:2 ratio with warm water. Soak gauze in this medicine and apply to the sore spot, secure the compress so that it does not fall off at night.
• Herbal compress for inflammation of the lymph nodes. We will need crushed St. John's wort, yarrow, walnut, mistletoe and water. You need to take a teaspoon of each herb, mix and pour into a saucepan, pour a glass of water and put on the fire. When the water boils, you need to make the fire weak and boil the decoction for about five minutes, and then let it cool and use for night compresses for 2-3 weeks.
• Celandine compress for inflammation of the lymph nodes. Celandine is a medicinal plant that grows in almost every home on the windowsill as a houseplant. Its leaves need to be washed and thoroughly crushed in a mortar, squeeze out the juice to get one tablespoon. It needs to be poured into a glass container and add half a glass of alcohol or vodka. Before use, store in a dark place for about a day. To make a compress, gauze folded in four must first be soaked in hot water, and then soaked in celandine tincture, tied to the sore spot overnight, and wrap the compress with woolen cloth on top.

Treatment of cervical lymphadenitis in children in its mild forms can also be cured using these effective folk methods. It is necessary to remember the need to strictly follow the specified dosage of herbs and the method of preparing home remedies for inflammation of the lymph nodes, since a violation of the recipe can cause harm and worsen the condition of both the child and the adult.

Prevention of cervical lymphadenitis

To prevent inflammation of the cervical lymph nodes, it is necessary to carefully monitor oral hygiene and promptly treat identified diseases and inflammatory processes. In no case should you neglect the body's signals about discomfort or pain in the lymph nodes, but immediately consult a doctor. It is also very important to treat cuts and wounds with antiseptic solutions.

Prognosis of cervical lymphadenitis

If cervical lymphadenitis is detected in time and promptly treated, the prognosis in most cases will be very favorable. But it is worth remembering that destructive types of lymphadenitis lead to disruption of lymph flow and the development of lymphostasis, to the death of lymph nodes.

Author: Anastasia Zhitnik