Submandibular lymphadenitis
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Submandibular lymphadenitis can develop in both adults and children. It is important to understand that this disease is rarely the primary. What does it mean? This means that the cause of lymphadenitis is the inflammatory process in some other organ and only then the infection spreads to the lymph nodes.
In general, in the human body there are several hundred lymph nodes that are part of the protective immune system of the body. But most often inflamed nodes, located in the head and neck. These are submandibular, cervical or occipital lymph nodes.
ICD-10 code
Over the centuries of existence and development of modern medicine, doctors and scientists have repeatedly tried to create a description and classification of various diseases. The first such attempt, which entered the annals of history, belonged to Sauvage, who lived in the sixteenth century.
Nowadays such a classification of diseases has been created by WHO and it is called the ICD or the International Classification of Diseases. Subfamily lymphadenitis entered this classification.
Currently, IBC is used by many countries around the world. This normative document gives a description and rules for the treatment of various diseases. As new scientific data are received in the field of medicine and pharmacology, this document is being reviewed by WHO and is being improved.
Causes of submandibular lymphadenitis
Although in most cases submandibular lymphadenitis is a secondary disease, there are cases when this disease develops separately. Then the cause of submandibular lymphadenitis is the trauma of the node itself with the ingested pathogenic microflora.
As a rule, there are two pathogenic bacteria that most often cause submandibular lymphadenitis. These are stethococci and staphylococci. How do bacteria get into the lymph node? It is clear that with a direct trauma to the node, they are brought there through the damaged skin.
But if the injury was not, then these bacteria can get into the node through the lymph. Foci of development of bacteria can be found in the teeth and gums. Diseases such as caries, gingivitis or periodontitis are foci of infection from which bacteria through the lymph flow can enter the lymph nodes and cause their inflammation.
Another reason for submandibular lymphadenitis is chronic diseases of the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx and tonsils. For example, chronic tonsillitis may give rise to submandibular lymphadenitis. Another cause of lymphadenitis can be chronic sinusitis. That's why lymphadenitis is called a secondary disease. Of course, you need to treat such a disease in conjunction with the primary focus of infection.
In addition to stethococci and staphylococci submandibular lymphadenitis can be caused by other pathogens. For example, the causative agent of tuberculosis Koch's wand can also cause concomitant defeat of the nodes. Another possible causative agent of infection is a bacterium that causes syphilis.
Symptoms of submandibular lymphadenitis
As a rule, submandibular lymphadenitis can be fairly simply diagnosed by its symptoms. If an infection gets into the node, it becomes inflamed, which is accompanied by pain, redness of the skin in the knot area. Another skin can become hot, because locally the body temperature rises.
In some cases, the lymph node greatly increases in size. This is due to swelling of the tissues, or because of accumulation of pus in the node itself and in the tissues around it. After submaxillary lymphadenitis there are two types: non-purulent and purulent.
In addition to pain and other symptoms of submandibular lymphadenitis, it can be detected by a general analysis of blood. The level of leukocytes in the blood in this disease increases sharply.
Local increase in temperature, that is, hot skin in the area of the node, can be accompanied by a general deterioration of well-being and an increase in the temperature of the whole body. In acute processes and festering, body temperature can increase dramatically and dramatically.
The patient may experience weakness, chills and show signs of general intoxication, namely pallor of the skin, lethargy, lack of appetite.
Acute submandibular lymphadenitis
Submandibular lymphadenitis is of two types - acute and chronic. In the first case of the disease, it always proceeds in an acute form, but if the patient is not adequately treated, the disease can go on into a chronic form.
In acute submandibular lymphadenitis, only one or more of the nodes can become inflamed at once. Although the acute course of the disease can also be with the neural form of lymphadenitis, but most often it is caused by suppuration.
In this case, pus can collect in the node and fluctuate. This means that pus "overflows" and "vibrates" at the site, which can lead to breakthrough and further infection of tissues. In addition, in acute disease, the infection can affect not only the knot itself, but also other tissues around it, they swell, blush and hurt.
Acute lymphadenitis can interfere with the full use of the part of the body where the node is located. With submandibular lymphadenitis, the neck and jaw can hurt. Pain can also appear when you open or close your mouth.
Chronic submandibular lymphadenitis
Chronic submandibular lymphadenitis may appear as a result of improper treatment of the acute form of this disease. While in acute form the lymph node swells, increases in size and the skin around it blushes, with chronic form the nodes can harden.
Also, with a chronic form, infection and inflammation can spread from the node itself to the tissues around it. The patient has the same symptoms as in the acute form of the disease. It raises both body temperature and skin temperature around the nodes. The skin turns red. The person feels a strong malaise, chills and lethargy.
If lymphadenitis passes into a chronic form, you may need a more radical method of treating it - removing the node. While acute lymphadenitis can be treated by removing pus from the node and applying antibiotic therapy.
Submandibular lymphadenitis in children
Submandibular lymphadenitis in children occurs as often as in adults. Infection can get into the nodes through the lymph from different foci of inflammation. It can be an infection of teeth and gums, chronic infections in the nasopharynx and so on.
It should be noted that in children of the first years of life, lymphadenitis can not develop, because lymph nodes are formed during the first three years of life.
If this disease is not treated in a timely manner, then surgical intervention and even removal of the inflamed node may be necessary. Therefore, it is important to consult a doctor in time, because inflammation of some of the nodes is harder to notice. Many parents also do not suspect about the existence of lymph nodes in the occipital part of the head. Although submandibular lymphadenitis in children is easy to diagnose.
The child may complain of pain in the neck or under the jaw. The parent can probe the nodes. If they are healthy, it will not cause the child any painful sensations. In addition, healthy nodes will be soft and mobile to the touch.
Where does it hurt?
Diagnosis of submandibular lymphadenitis
There are several methods for diagnosing submandibular lymphadenitis. First, the doctor can diagnose, so to speak, "by eye." After all, this disease has a pronounced symptomatology. Inflammation of the nodes hurts and increases in size.
The skin above the knot and around it can blush and feel much warmer than the other skin of the patient. In addition, the overall body temperature can greatly increase and it is difficult to knock it down.
If there is pus in the node, the node greatly increases in size, the skin around turns red and even turns purple. Pus is probed through the texture of the skin and knot. He fluctuates there or "overflows".
In addition to visual, symptomatic and palpable methods of diagnosis, there are also clinical methods. For example, a doctor may order a patient to give a general blood test. With submandibular lymphadenitis, the level of leukocytes in the blood will be significantly increased.
Ultrasound is another diagnostic method for submandibular lymphadenitis. Using ultrasound, you can accurately determine whether there is pus inside the node. In addition, the doctor may prescribe a puncture to take fluid from the node for bacteriological analysis. This analysis will help determine which bacterium is caused by inflammation and to which antibiotic these bacteria are most sensitive.
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What do need to examine?
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Treatment of submandibular lymphadenitis
There are two main ways to treat submandibular lymphadenitis. Unfortunately, the main method of treatment is surgical intervention. It can be of different types. If there is pus in the node in the acute course of the disease, the doctor makes an incision and lets out pus.
Thus, it is possible to avoid spontaneous breakout of the node and infection of tissues around it. With an uncontrolled breakthrough, sepsis may occur.
Therefore, the node is opened and pus removed from it. This removes inflammation and speeds up the healing process. The second method of treatment is antibiotics. Often these drugs are prescribed as concomitant treatment for surgical intervention.
There are also alternative treatments for submandibular lymphadenitis. And also in some cases apply physiotherapy, electrophoresis and so on. But these methods of treatment are most often used after removal of pus from the site by surgery.
Treatment with antibiotics
Not every antibiotic is suitable for the treatment of submandibular lymphadenitis. Most often this disease is caused by such pathogens as stethococci or staphylococci. Therefore, antibiotics of the penicillin group are used for treatment.
In most cases, you need to inject the medicine through the injections and the duration of the course should not be less than seven days. This course is enough to completely destroy the infection in the lymph nodes.
At the same time, it is very important to understand before treatment how much this or that drug will be effective in fighting bacteria. For this purpose, the doctor can prescribe a puncture. The taken liquid is sown for the presence of pathogens and it is tested which antibiotic most efficiently kills the bacteria.
Treatment of submandibular lymphadenitis in children
In the treatment of submandibular lymphadenitis in children, it is very important to first identify the primary source of infection. It can be chronic inflammatory processes on the mucous throat or nasopharynx. And maybe caries or inflammation of the gums.
It is very important to cure and eliminate the primary infection. As a rule, submandibular lymphadenitis is closely associated with the mouth cavity and nasopharynx. Therefore, when treating it, it is important to carefully observe the cleanliness of the teeth, the stripes of the mouth and throat. Mouth and throat can rinse and brush your teeth regularly.
Purulent lymphadenitis must definitely be treated with antibiotics. Sometimes it may be necessary to open the site to remove pus from it. The doctor can put the drainage so that further pus does not accumulate in the node, does not cause severe pain and inflammation does not divide into tissue around the lymph node.
In some cases, the doctor may prescribe compresses or lotions on the skin around the node. But in no case can they be done without the appointment of a doctor. Especially it is necessary to avoid heating the area of the nodes before the diagnosis is made. Heating increases the rate of growth of bacteria and can only increase the pain of the child.
Treatment with alternative means
It is important to understand that it is impossible to treat purulent submandibular lymphadenitis with alternative means. So you can only miss the time and from an acute infection, it will go into a chronic form. Therefore, alternative drugs are best used as an additional therapy or in the early stages of the disease.
As a rule, alternative medicine uses medicinal herbs. They can be consumed in the form of tinctures or teas, or you can make them a lotion. In the treatment of submandibular lymphadenitis, a natural "antibiotic" such as echinacea can be used.
From it you need to make a tincture on alcohol. But you can not apply a compress to the skin from a pure or undiluted tincture. Before use, one part of the tincture should be diluted with two parts of water. Do not use hot water to avoid overheating the inflamed knot. Take warm water.
The compress is put on for the whole night. The diluted tincture is applied to cotton wool and fixed with a bandage. This same tincture, only not divorced, can be taken inside. You can do this three times a day and drink at a time not more than 40 drops.
Another alternative treatment for submandibular lymphadenitis is onions. It has long been famous for its bactericidal properties. It can be used for compress. In addition to onions, you need to stock up on the tar from the pharmacy.
Onions are baked entirely (with a peel) in a frying cupboard. The oven needs about 20 minutes. The husks are removed and the onions are kneaded. Add a tablespoon of tar. The mixture should be warm, but not hot. Compress from this mixture is applied to the inflamed node and left overnight.
As a natural immunostimulant, blueberry is suitable. These berries are rich in vitamins and beneficial microelements, which are so necessary for the body during illness. From blueberries you can make strong Morse and drink this drink several times during the day. Just do not forget that blueberries have a soothing effect, so you can not eat too much.
More information of the treatment
Prevention of submandibular lymphadenitis
Basically, submandibular lymphadenitis reduces to the prevention of chronic infections in the body. Since lymphadenitis is a secondary disease, it can be caused by any inflammatory process. Especially if this inflammation is caused by stethococci or staphylococci, to which the lymph nodes are highly susceptible.
It is important to understand that the primary infection itself can not cause acute pain or discomfort. For example, it can be caries, in which there is no acute toothache. Or a chronic rhinitis that does not cause fever or other pronounced symptoms.
With the flow of lymph, infection of their other organs can migrate to the lymph nodes and cause acute inflammatory processes there. For prophylaxis of submandibular lymphadenitis, it is necessary to treat teeth in time, maintain oral hygiene and visit the dentist on time for preventive examination.
The same is true for ENT organs. It is necessary several times a year to visit an otolaryngologist for preventive examination and not to start acute or chronic diseases of the nasopharynx.
Prognosis of submandibular lymphadenitis
There are several undesirable complications of submandibular lymphadenitis. If this disease is not treated, then the prognosis may be disappointing. The acute form can go to the chronic one, in which the nodes harden, and their complete surgical removal may be necessary.
Pulmonary lymphadenitis can go into a purulent form. Then you need antibiotic treatment and you may have to do an autopsy to remove pus.
If lymphadenitis is not treated in a timely manner, pus can break out and infect other tissues around the node. The rapid spread of infection in the body can lead to blood infection, general sepsis and death of the patient.
The consequences of submandibular lymphadenitis can be unpredictable, because from these nodes pus can go in almost any direction. They are close to the brain, and infection can even get there.
Therefore, it is very important to consult a doctor in time if you notice an enlarged lymph node or pain in the area of the nodes in yourself or your child. In addition, you need to heal wounds, calluses and eliminate other permanent foci of infection in the body in time, because it can migrate to the lymph nodes from any organ or body area.