Why do lymph nodes in the neck hurt and what to do?

Pain in the lymph nodes is currently a fairly pressing problem among both adults and children. There are many reasons for its occurrence, and colds are far from the main one. Therefore, it is very important to be informed about the causes of pain in the lymph nodes, as this will allow you to more closely monitor your health, not delay a visit to the doctor, and immediately take any treatment and preventive measures.

Causes lymph node pain in the neck

A lymph node is a small organ of the lymphatic system that acts as a biological filter in the body. Lymph flows through the lymph nodes, which comes from organs and parts of the body. There are several groups of lymph nodes in our body, each of these groups performs its own protective function, aimed at protecting a particular organ or system of organs. The main functions of the cervical lymph nodes are to protect organs located in the neck from infections and tumors and directly protect the head and brain. Inflammation and soreness of the lymph node is called lymphadenitis and is most often a consequence of an infection or, less often, occurs due to a tumor-like lesion. If the lymph nodes on the neck hurt, then we can well suspect that there is a source of infection near the location of the lymph nodes. This can be acute respiratory infections, infectious diseases of the throat, ear diseases. Concomitant symptoms of lymphadenitis are elevated body temperature, general malaise, headache. When the lymph nodes in the neck hurt, you must immediately consult a doctor, since normal inflammation can develop into a purulent form.

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Symptoms lymph node pain in the neck

Usually, the lymph nodes on the neck cannot become inflamed and painful by themselves, in any case, their enlargement and soreness indicate that an inflammatory process is occurring in the body. Immediately after a pathogenic microorganism enters the lymph node, the lymphocytes that are inside the lymph node begin the process of resistance and destroy harmful viruses and bacteria. But in most cases, this process of destroying viruses is accompanied by pain and associated symptoms.

Inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck can be divided into three types:

1. Inflammation accompanied by pain of low intensity, which is normally not felt, but slightly manifested by palpation. There is no obvious enlargement of the lymph node, the node is palpated under the skin, but does not protrude above its level. Temperature, weakness and headache are practically absent. There may be a slight soreness of the throat.
2. Inflammation, which is accompanied by pain not only during palpation, but also in a normal position. There is an enlargement of the lymph node, which can be clearly seen, the node is easily palpated and protrudes above the skin level. Associated symptoms include weakness, fever, headache, sore throat.
3. Purulent inflammation of the lymph node, which manifests itself as severe pain and redness of the skin in the area of the lymph node. Concomitant symptoms of purulent inflammation include high body temperature, chills, sometimes fever, weakness, general malaise, severe headache.

In any case, when the lymph nodes in the neck hurt, a visit to the doctor is mandatory. It is impossible to cure lymphadenitis on your own, especially if it is in an acute or advanced stage.

The lymph node on the right side of the neck hurts

When the lymph node on the right side of the neck hurts, it may indicate an inflammatory process in the throat, an enlargement and inflammation of the right lobe of the thyroid gland, or inflammation of the right tonsil. Less often, there may be suspicions of some kind of infection that spreads from the tongue, teeth, oral cavity, soft tissues of the face. Before talking about what to do, it is worth mentioning what you should never do when the lymph nodes on the neck hurt - this is to warm them, apply compresses to the painful area and engage in any kind of self-medication.

The only outcome of the above procedures can be an abscess of the lymph node. Even if the pain and enlargement of the lymph node are minor, then in any case a visit to the doctor is vital. The reason for such an urgent visit is that the infectious factor tends to spread rapidly and the condition of the inflamed lymph node without taking the necessary treatment measures can significantly worsen and the most unfavorable outcome will be inflammation of all the lymph nodes in the body.

The lymph node on the left side of the neck hurts

The causes of pain in the lymph nodes on the left side of the neck are almost the same as the causes of pain in the lymph nodes on the right side of the neck. But here it is worth adding that with pain in the lymph nodes on the left side of the neck, one can suspect damage to the abdominal organs and retroperitoneal space. If the inflammation spreads to the left submandibular lymph node, then the cause may be infectious diseases such as infectious mononucleosis, cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis. These diseases are especially common in children. In any case, to determine the cause of the disease, a general and biochemical blood test, a general urine test are done, less often the doctor may prescribe an ultrasound of some abdominal organs or a lymph node puncture. According to statistics, in 25% of cases of inflammation of the lymph nodes on the neck, there is also parallel inflammation of the entire lymphatic system of the body. Therefore, if the lymph nodes in the neck hurt, they are inflamed, and at the same time you feel weak, have chills and a high body temperature, then the only sensible and logical decision will be to call an ambulance or, if the condition allows, an independent urgent visit to the doctor.

The lymph node on the back of the neck hurts

Most often, pain and enlargement of the lymph node in the back of the neck is observed in children, since one of the main causes of this condition is infectious mononucleosis, which affects children more than adults. Usually, in addition to a pronounced inflamed lymph node, swelling of the face and severe pain in the cervical region are also observed. To diagnose mononucleosis, a study is conducted for the presence of Epstein-Barr infection. When the lymph nodes in the back of the neck hurt, additional examinations are also carried out to determine cytomegalovirus, tuberculosis, tularemia, brucellosis and herpes types 1, 2 and 6, since these diseases can also provoke an increase in lymph nodes. A separate group of causes of pain in the cervical lymph nodes include tumor diseases such as lymphogranulomatosis and lymphocytic leukemia. In this case, the lymph node is objectively hard, enlarged and immobile. In this case, radical treatment methods such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy are carried out.

If the lymph node in the neck hurts a lot?

Severe and pronounced pain in the lymph node indicates either an advanced disease or an acute inflammatory process that is currently occurring in the body or localized directly in the lymph node itself.

The following causes of pain in the lymph node are also distinguished separately:

• allergic reaction to medication
• allergic reaction to insect bites
• negative reaction of the immune system to vaccination

Basically, such reactions of the immune system are accompanied by a clear increase and pronounced pain in the lymph node itself, swelling of the face, increased body temperature, chills, fever. Therefore, if the lymph nodes on the neck hurt a lot, then it is strictly forbidden to endure and wait until the condition normalizes. In any case, self-medication and untimely seeking help from a specialist can have a negative and fatal outcome.

Treatment lymph node pain in the neck

Treatment of pain in the lymph nodes is in any case prescribed individually depending on the type and stage of the disease. If your lymph nodes in the neck hurt and your general health has worsened, then during this period you need to stop any physical activity and switch to a calmer regime. The cause of pain in the lymph nodes is almost always the same - it is an inflammatory process, and in order to effectively overcome this process, drug treatment is necessary. It is mainly based on taking anti-inflammatory analgesics and antibiotics. Regarding traditional medicine, in this case it makes sense exclusively as an adjuvant therapy, but in no case should it replace the main treatment. For inflammation of the lymph nodes during a cold, you can take echinacea tincture 10-15 drops 3-4 times a day. Taking vitamin C will also be effective, since it is this vitamin that ensures the production of leukocytes in our body. Regarding physiotherapy for pain in the lymph nodes, UHF therapy is most often prescribed. In the most extreme cases of diseases, their surgical treatment is carried out by puncturing the lymph node or by completely removing it.

Pain in the lymph nodes on the neck in all cases is an alarm signal in the body. There is no pain without a cause, especially if this pain is localized in the lymph nodes. Therefore, careful attention to the state of your body and health in general will allow you to avoid radical treatment and significantly reduce the risk of complications of the disease in the future.