Inflammation of the lymph nodes behind the ear

Our lymphatic system is part of the immune system, that is, the body's protective barrier. And the direct responsibility of the lymph nodes, with their special cells - macrophages, is to serve as a biological filter that absorbs and destroys microbes, bacteria and toxins. So very often, as soon as a significant source of infection appears somewhere in the body, inflammation of the lymph nodes occurs behind the ear, on the neck, in the armpit or groin - depending on the localization of the infection.

The human lymphatic system is no less important than the circulatory system. Lymph transports many useful substances and enzymes, and also removes neutralized bacteria that have entered our body.

The lymphatic system (which includes the lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes, spleen, thymus, tonsils and adenoids) ensures blood purification and the production of lymphocytes. And lymphocytes - in turn - produce antibodies that fight various infections.

Cause of inflammation of the lymph nodes behind the ear

To understand the causes of inflammation of the lymph nodes behind the ear, we will have to recall a little more anatomy and physiology... Lymph nodes, of which there are almost six hundred in the human body, are formations ranging in size from 0.5 to 50 mm, round, oval or bean-shaped. Most often, they are located in groups, and the lymph from each organ goes to certain (regional) lymph nodes.

Lymph nodes located behind the ears (parotid) are concentrated along the posterior auricular vein. In a normal state, they are soft and not detectable by palpation. But when inflamed, the lymph nodes behind the ear increase in size, become denser and are clearly palpable.

In most cases, inflammation of the lymph nodes behind the ear is a manifestation of a disease of the organ that is in close proximity to this node. First of all, these are various inflammatory processes in the ears:

• otitis,
• Eustachitis,
• inflammation of the auditory nerve,
• furuncle of the external auditory canal

Next come the oral cavity and throat:

• dental caries,
• flux,
• tonsillitis,
• pharyngitis,
• inflammation of the salivary glands or tonsils.

Often the cause of inflammation of the lymph nodes behind the ear is a cold and acute respiratory viral infections with a severe runny nose.

In addition, such inflammation can be a symptom of infectious diseases - mumps or rubella.

If the enlargement of the lymph node is not accompanied by pain and suppuration, and its cause lies in one of the above diseases and after its treatment everything returns to normal, doctors diagnose this as local lymphadenopathy, that is, the reaction of the body's lymphatic system to an infection in a specific disease.

But if in response to the penetration of infection there is a strong inflammation of the nodes, which is accompanied not only by their swelling, but also by a feeling of pain - then this is lymphadenitis. That is, inflammation of the lymph node itself, caused by its defeat by infected cells from other inflamed foci. Here, an increase in body temperature and the appearance of suppuration in the area of the lymph node can be observed.

Symptoms of inflammation of the lymph nodes behind the ear

The main symptom of inflammation of the lymph node behind the ear is an increase in its size and pain when palpated, radiating to the ear and submandibular region. Redness and swelling of the skin above the node may appear quite often.

But when lymphadenitis has passed into the suppuration stage, the patient complains not only of a painful "lump" behind the ear, but also of general malaise, headache, increased body temperature (from subfebrile to +38°C), decreased appetite and worsening sleep. In some cases, pustular rashes appear in the area of the lymph node.

When a purulent process affects a lymph node, shooting or pulsating pain can be quite strong and almost continuous. And such symptoms of inflammation of the lymph node behind the ear should be a reason to immediately consult a doctor.

According to doctors, any inflammation in the head area is life-threatening. And it is important to remember that delay in treating purulent lymphadenitis is fraught with general blood poisoning (sepsis) or, "at best", adenophlegmon, in which the suppurating lymph node breaks through and pus penetrates into the surrounding tissues.

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Diagnosis of inflammation of the lymph node behind the ear

As already noted, the lymph nodes behind the ear (as well as in the neck area) can increase in size with any acute viral infection of the upper respiratory tract and inflammatory processes of the ENT organs. Therefore, the anamnesis data of the disease (information about the development of the disease, previous illnesses, etc.) are very important.

The enlargement of the lymph nodes may be insignificant - the size of a pea, or it may reach the size of a walnut. In any case, when diagnosing inflammation of the lymph node behind the ear, the doctor carefully examines the inflamed node and palpates it. Palpation reveals not only the degree of enlargement, but also the level of pain the patient feels.

In this case, the occipital and cervical lymph nodes, as well as other nearby glands, are subject to examination: salivary glands, tonsils, lacrimal and thyroid glands. In many cases of inflammation of the lymph node behind the ear, the anamnesis and examination data are sufficient to determine the diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

And in this case, treatment of the underlying disease that caused lymphadenopathy leads to normalization of the lymph node size. But when the antibacterial drugs prescribed by the doctor did not bring a positive result, and the inflammation of the lymph node behind the ear did not pass, but increased in size to 3-4 cm, became hard, and the surrounding tissues are involved in the inflammatory process, then a blood test is performed. And then, based on the ESR and the content of leukocytes, the scale and intensity of the inflammatory process is determined.

If the test results are unsatisfactory, the attending physician will prescribe an X-ray, ultrasound examination or tomography (CT). The fact is that inflammation of the lymph node behind the ear can be a symptom of a primary malignant tumor of the lymph nodes (lymphoma) or metastases in them. So the need for a biopsy is not excluded.

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Treatment of inflammation of the lymph node behind the ear

When the lymph node behind the ear becomes inflamed due to a cold, flu, otitis, etc., “eliminating the cause will eliminate the consequences,” that is, treating the primary source of infection will also bring the lymph node back to normal.

It is important to keep in mind that in order to reduce pain and eliminate other symptoms of inflammation of the lymph node behind the ear, thermal procedures should not be used under any circumstances. In order not to harm your health and not to get more serious diseases, you should contact specialists - to make a correct diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment.

In the treatment of acute forms of inflammation of the lymph nodes behind the ear, broad-spectrum antibiotics, sulfonamides, antihistamines and general tonics are used. To relieve pain, anesthetics and analgesics are used. Physiotherapy may be prescribed to reduce swelling.

In the treatment of acute purulent lymphadenitis complicated by a phlegmonous or necrotic process, antibiotics are also used and abscesses are opened with subsequent drug therapy for inflammation.