Medical expert of the article
New publications
Pain in the lymph nodes
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
The most common pain in the lymph nodes occurs due to damage to the body of any kind of infection.
Lymph nodes are present in the human body in the form of lymphoid formations about the size of beans or peas. The main function of the organ containing lymphocytes is to protect the body from various infections. Lymph nodes are part of the lymphatic system.
[Diseases that cause pain in the lymph nodes
Enlargement of lymph nodes can report the presence of serious diseases, ranging from normal influenza or angina and ending with rare types of diseases, for example, leukemia.
The next ailment that provokes pain in the lymph nodes and their increase is acute inflammation of the lymph nodes. Often, the disease occurs with increased body temperature, various ailments, headaches, general weakness of the body. Acute inflammation of the lymph nodes is sometimes accompanied by inflammation of the lymph vessels.
Acute inflammation of the lymph nodes is divided into three categories: hemorrhagic (inflammatory fluid with blood veins), catarrhal (noxious inflammation) and purulent inflammation. Each category is characterized by pain in the lymph nodes. If a person suffers from thrombophlebitis, blood infection, the involvement of adjacent tissues in the inflammatory process, the course of the inflammatory process in the lymph nodes can therefore worsen. Started acute inflammation can gradually move into a chronic form.
Chronic inflammatory process, affecting the lymph nodes, characterized by proliferation of tissue and frequent absence of purulent accumulations. Chronic lymphadenitis is accompanied by densified, enlarged lymph nodes, pain in the lymph nodes.
The presence of an inflammatory process in the lymph nodes can be judged by the increased size of the lymph nodes. The reasons for their increase are divided into six groups: cancer, common (generalized) infection, local (localized) infection, granulomatous disease, connective tissue diseases, hypersensitivity.
Cancer means Hodgkin's disease, leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, causing high body temperature, pain in the lymph nodes, etc.
A generalized infection is a bacterial infection that causes typhoid, tuberculosis, and blood poisoning; viral infections (rubella, chickenpox, cytomegalovirus, mononucleosis, AIDS) and other types of infections - pathogens. It should not be forgotten that in the event of a generalized infection, lymphadenopathy first has the status of localized, and then is already transplanted into widespread (generalized) lymphadenopathy.
Localized infections also include viral and bacterial infections. To the virus diseases include rubella and the disease of "cat scratch". To bacterial - diphtheria, plague, tuberculosis, etc. Spirochetes, unicellular organisms, fungi can also provoke a disease. In young children, the lymph nodes can increase after the child has had pertussis, tetanus (DTP), diphtheria. All these ailments are accompanied by pain in the lymph nodes.
To diseases of connective tissue, it is customary to include red lupus and arthritis.
The state of hypersensitivity, due to which lymphadenopathy occurs, is the reaction of the body to certain medicinal preparations and substances, for example, to horse serum, which is part of antisera used to treat a variety of diseases.
What if you have pain in the lymph nodes?
If you have pain in the lymph nodes, you should immediately call the medical center for help from the following doctors: oncologist, infectious disease specialist, hematologist, surgeon. Only in the presence of patient analyzes and diagnostic studies of the patient can determine the exact cause of the disease.