Inflammation of the lymph nodes under the arm

In our body, lymph nodes are the basis of the immune system. With their help, viruses, bacteria, and abnormal cells (for example, cancer cells) are cleared. There are more than a hundred lymph nodes scattered throughout the body, but the lymph nodes under the arms, in the groin, and on the neck are most susceptible to damage.

Inflammation of the lymph nodes under the arm usually occurs against the background of an infection in the body. Usually, the lymph nodes return to normal after some time, when the source of the infection is eliminated. Fungal infections and cancer cells can provoke inflammation. Women should be especially careful with enlarged lymph nodes under the arm; if swelling occurs, you should immediately consult a doctor for advice. The inflammatory process may indicate breast cancer, in which case the disease is best detected at an earlier stage.

Shaving can also contribute to inflammation, as in this case the infection enters through damaged skin. The use of deodorants with poor hygiene is one of the common causes of inflammation of the lymph nodes under the arms today. Deodorants tend to clog pores in which bacteria remain. The proliferation of bacteria leads to an inflammatory process, to which the lymph nodes under the arm are the first to react.

The task of the axillary lymph nodes is to cleanse the body of inflammation and infection. Inflammation in the axillary lymph nodes may indicate a disease of nearby organs. It is worth paying close attention to inflammation of the lymph nodes, since this is the first signal that notifies that something is wrong in the body.

The axillary lymph nodes contain connective tissue, which prevents bacteria and viruses from entering the lymph. If an inflammatory process has begun in the lymph nodes, it means that the number of bacteria and viruses that have attacked the body has increased significantly. In this case, the lymph nodes begin to work more actively, and they can increase in size quite significantly, and inflammation begins. When pressed, sudden movements, the axillary lymph nodes react painfully.

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Causes of inflammation of the lymph nodes under the arm

The main reasons include:

• Colds.
• Oncology.
• Infectious diseases.
• Diseases of the mammary gland in women.

If the body is completely healthy, then a person does not feel the lymph nodes. The sensitivity of the lymph nodes increases with the inflammatory process that occurs in the body, it can be anything from an abscess to a cancerous tumor. Often, inflammation of the lymph nodes under the arms occurs against the background of furuncles, erysipelas, trophic ulcers, thrombophlebitis. Various diseases of the oral cavity (caries, periodontitis), as well as tonsillitis, angina contribute to the enlargement of the lymph nodes.

The location of the lymph nodes is easy to determine, you can do it yourself: when palpating under the armpits, you can feel small mobile balls - these are the lymph nodes. When the infection spreads throughout the body, the lymph nodes increase in size and become painful when pressed.

Colds and sore throats can cause inflammation of the axillary lymph nodes. The reason for this is the intense fight of our immune system against the viruses that have attacked the body. An active process of producing leukocytes begins, thanks to which bacteria that have settled in the lymph nodes are destroyed. The lymph nodes signal the fight against infection with inflammation and pain.

A common cause is folliculitis (inflammation of the hair follicle). Inflammation can cause pain, redness, fever, joint pain, fatigue, nausea, etc.

An enlarged lymph node that appeared later or simultaneously with a lump in the breast may indicate inflammation in the mammary gland. In this case, you should not delay going to the doctor in order to exclude a possible cancerous tumor as early as possible.

The inflammatory process may be associated not only with infections in the body. Allergic reactions can also provoke an increase in lymph nodes. Injuries, bruises, cysts, lipomas - all this leads to changes in the lymph nodes.

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Symptoms of Inflammation of the Lymph Nodes in the Armpits

At first, the lymph nodes increase in size, painful sensitivity appears when pressing, which should not be normal at all. Gradually, the skin over the inflamed area acquires a reddish tint. This stage of the disease can last quite a long time and eventually pass without any treatment, provided that the inflammatory process that led to the enlargement of the lymph nodes (infectious disease, allergy) is eliminated in time.

If the inflammation continues, the patient's health becomes worse over time, the soreness of the lymph nodes increases, weakness and nausea appear, and the temperature rises.

If purulent foci appear in the inflamed lymph nodes, the symptoms become more pronounced. The temperature can rise to critical, the patient has a fever, the condition worsens literally with each hour. A pulsating pain is felt in the affected lymph node, if the infection has spread throughout the body, then the source of inflammation often loses its significance.

Inflammation of the lymph nodes under the arm can be acute and chronic and is divided into specific and non-specific types.

Most often, these are staphylococcus bacteria, but streptococcus and other pyogenic bacteria provoke inflammation extremely rarely. Also, the source of inflammation can be decay products in a purulent focus: (suppurating wounds, erysipelas, furuncles, carbuncles, inflammation of the bone marrow, thrombophlebitis, trophic ulcers).

Bacteria and their decay products settle in the lymph nodes with the blood flow, thereby causing an inflammatory process.

A specific type usually develops against the background of rather serious diseases, including tuberculosis, syphilis, trichomoniasis, etc. In this case, the symptoms of inflammation in the lymph nodes are closely related to the symptoms of the underlying disease.

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Diagnosis of inflammation of the lymph nodes under the arm

Diagnostic measures depend on several factors:

• The nature of the disease (acute, chronic).
• Prevalence (the lesion is local or generalized).
• Other symptoms of a pathological nature in the lymph nodes (adhesions with surrounding tissues, changes in consistency, etc.).
• The presence of specific signs indicating a particular disease (rash in measles, intoxication in tuberculosis, chancre in syphilis, etc.).

There is a general program for examination of inflamed lymph nodes. It includes a standard blood and urine test. An elevated level of leukocytes (white blood cells) indicates that the body is vigorously fighting the infection. In this case, additional tests may be prescribed. If tuberculosis is suspected, an X-ray, Mantoux test, sputum examination are prescribed; serological tests are taken for syphilis or HIV infection; if a malignant tumor is suspected, a puncture of the lymph node is taken and a histological examination is performed. An important stage of the examination is an ultrasound examination, which can assess the condition of the superficial groups of lymph nodes.

Inflammation of the lymph nodes under the arm in the superficial acute form is determined visually, as well as by palpation (feeling). In most cases, diagnosis occurs exactly this way. It is quite difficult to diagnose infections that originate from the oral cavity (caries, gum inflammation, etc.).

Treatment of inflammation of the lymph nodes under the arm

Treatment is primarily aimed at eliminating the source of infection. In the early stages of development, the affected lymph nodes need rest. Physiotherapy (drug electrophoresis, ultrasound therapy, etc.) and the application of anti-inflammatory ointments and compresses promote resorption well. Local application of ethyl chloride shows a good effect. A minute spraying of the affected lymph node leads to numbness of the skin. As a rule, after several sessions, the inflammatory processes cease. In combination with this method, application of boric petroleum jelly, heparin ointment or troxavazin to the areas of inflammation is used.

It is better to take antibiotics at an early stage of the disease to slow down the inflammatory process. Penicillin antibiotics are effective in infectious non-specific inflammation. Antibiotic therapy lasts 10-14 days, as a rule, the lymph nodes gradually decrease in size and the inflammation subsides. Antibiotic treatment speeds up the recovery process. If the inflammatory process is caused by specific diseases, such as tuberculosis, then treatment is carried out in a hospital setting with special anti-tuberculosis drugs.

If the inflammatory process has become purulent, urgent surgical intervention is performed, during which the affected lymph node is opened and cleared of accumulated pus.

If a malignant tumor is confirmed, a course of chemotherapy is prescribed.

Effective treatment consists, first of all, in the competent impact on the cause of inflammation; if the source of infection is destroyed, then the lymph nodes will gradually return to normal.

The use of traditional medicine gives good results, especially in the early stages of the disease. It is best to use traditional methods in conjunction with traditional treatment, not only to speed up the recovery process, but also to prevent the development of complications.

Echinacea is a good antiseptic. The easiest and most effective way to relieve inflammation is to take Echinacea tincture (available at the pharmacy). Half a teaspoon of tincture per ¼ glass of water, taken four times a day.

You can make a syrup from Echinacea: boil 300 ml of water, add half a glass of dry Echinacea root (you can use fresh root). The resulting mixture is boiled over low heat for 20 minutes, then removed from the heat, add half a glass of fresh peppermint, and let it brew for about 5 minutes, you can add honey to improve the taste. Both adults and children can take this syrup, 1 tablespoon three times a day. The syrup is taken until complete recovery. Children under 10 years old take 1 teaspoon, also 3 times a day. If after taking this syrup, pain in the stomach area appears, treatment should be stopped.

The well-known vitamin C is the most reliable assistant for any cold and infection. It helps to increase the level of leukocytes in the blood, with the help of which the body destroys viruses and bacteria. You can take the vitamin, starting with 250 mg, 3 times a day. If there is no positive dynamics in the treatment, the dose is increased to 500 mg, 1000 mg. For serious diseases such as tonsillitis, the dose is increased to 2000 mg, also taken three times a day.

How to prevent inflammation of the lymph nodes under the arm?

Inflammation of the lymph nodes under the arm develops, as already mentioned, as a result of infection entering the body. Inflammation, enlargement, and soreness of the lymph nodes are all a reaction of our immune system to the invasion of the virus. Lymph nodes in a healthy body are practically imperceptible. That is why preventive measures should be aimed at maintaining health.

If there is a tendency to colds, then there is a weakened immune system. Colds are a very common cause of inflamed lymph nodes under the arm, so to increase the body's resistance, you need to strengthen the immune system.

Healthy food (vegetables, fruits, boiled or stewed meat), walks in the fresh air help to increase the body's defenses; you can also drink rosehip, lemongrass, and echinacea tinctures, which will help the immune system during difficult times.

In addition to the immune system, special attention should be paid to abrasions, wounds, cuts, etc. Bacteria can penetrate through damaged skin, so they must be immediately treated with antiseptic solutions. In the case of a deep cut, a bandage must be applied and changed in a timely manner.

You need to be very careful with pimples that appear. When squeezing pimples, an infection can get into the wound (for example, through dirty hands), which will cause inflammation.

A good prevention of the inflammatory process in the lymph nodes will be timely and complete treatment of all diseases that you have contracted.

Lymph nodes are a kind of beacon that warns that an infection has entered the body. Therefore, to prevent inflammation of the lymph nodes under the arm, you must carefully monitor your health, maintain personal hygiene, consult a doctor in a timely manner and follow all recommendations.

Prognosis of inflammation of the lymph nodes under the arm

In most cases, inflammation of the lymph nodes under the arm, detected at an early stage of development, as well as timely and effective treatment, has a favorable prognosis. In the early stages, it is enough to stop the spread of infection from the main focus: a course of anti-inflammatory drugs, local treatment - will bring the lymph nodes to normal.

Over time, the inflammatory process can spread to adjacent tissues, the infection can spread more and more throughout the body, and intoxication can begin. In this case, the prognosis will not be so comforting, since complications are possible (inflammation of the veins, blood poisoning, impaired lymph flow). A scar remains at the site of a severely damaged lymph node, this process is irreversible. The acute stage is accompanied by a very serious condition of the patient - high temperature, fever, severe pain in the inflamed areas. If insufficiently effective treatment was carried out during the acute form, or if the patient interrupted it after improving his health, chronic inflammation can develop. In the chronic form of the disease, the lymph nodes will become inflamed at the slightest infection of the body (cold, furuncle, etc.).

A purulent process may begin in the inflamed lymph node, which further threatens the patient's life. The purulent process may spread to surrounding tissues, the infection rapidly spreads throughout the body, and in this case, even a fatal outcome is possible. In the purulent form, an operation to open the inflamed areas cannot be avoided. The treatment process will be long, quite unpleasant, with possible complications that will also need to be treated.

Women should be extremely careful about inflammation of the lymph nodes under the arm, as they can signal problems in the mammary gland (cancer tumors are not excluded). As is known, the earlier a tumor is detected (malignant or benign), the more favorable the prognosis.

Therefore, it is necessary to pay close attention to the various signals from our body, because we are talking about our health, and it is only in our hands.

Inflammation of the lymph nodes under the arm is a serious disease that should not be treated with disdain. If a slightly enlarged lymph node is detected and the cause of the inflammatory process is diagnosed in a timely manner, a number of complications can be avoided and more serious diseases (for example, malignant tumors) can be prevented at an early stage.