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Neck lymphadenopathy is a common condition in many people, so does this condition affect health? In fact, many cases of cervical lymphadenopathy will disappear and cause no harm to health, but in some cases, swollen neck lymph nodes are a manifestation of some malignancy. The following article will help you learn about the causes of cervical lymphadenitis.
1. An overview of the cervical lymph nodes
The lymphatic system exists in many organs in the body such as armpits, chest, groin... in which the neck position plays an important role. Lymph nodes are used to prevent the attack of disease-causing factors, protect the body and strengthen the body's immune system. So, normal lymph nodes have a lot of benefits for our health.
Lymph nodes are small, ranging from a few millimeters in size, with the main feature of being soft and mobile. The condition of neck pain, swollen neck lymph nodes than usual makes the patient worry whether the above condition affects health or not and what is the cause of swollen neck pain?
Accordingly, cervical lymphadenitis or cervical lymphadenopathy is a condition in which small pea-sized masses are round or oval in shape, most of which contain fluid inside. Patients may present with pain or no pain. In many cases, cervical lymphadenopathy emerges for no apparent reason and then gradually disappears on its own. The condition most commonly occurs in children and adults between the ages of 20 and 50, with women three times more likely to have it than men. In the case of infection or malignancy, the size of the lymph node will grow larger.
2. The role of the cervical lymph nodes
Neck lymph nodes are considered as the body's immune organs, where to concentrate and remove toxins circulating in the blood in the head and face area. In case this area is concentrated with many pathogens, it is the cause of cervical lymphadenitis, some malignancies such as cancer are also the cause of neck pain, swelling, and pain, this is a warning sign for patients with cervical lymphadenopathy. dangerous diseases should be noted.
Patients can identify the danger level of cervical lymph nodes by observing the following symptoms:
Infectious cervical lymphadenitis: Painful, tender and mobile lymph nodes; Cervical lymphadenitis due to malignancies such as cancer: The lymph nodes are painless or painless, hard, fixed in one position.
Các vị trí hạch ở cổ có thể khiến người bệnh đau hạch cổ khi hạch viêm
3. Causes of swollen lymph nodes in the neck
Swollen neck lymph nodes due to many different causes and pathologies as follows:
3.1. Inflammation in the head and neck region Inflammatory conditions in the head and neck area such as sinusitis, tooth decay, inflammation of the salivary glands, scalp inflammation, gingivitis, canker sores, sore throat, sore throat... These diseases are often characterized by small lymph node size, when the inflammation ends, the lymph nodes also disappear.
Children are the age at which neck lymph nodes are easily swollen due to inflammatory diseases of the head and face because the immune system at this age is developing, so in the case of unknown causes, parents will be very worried.
3.2. Benign neck disease Some benign neck diseases such as lipomas, bone bud, sebaceous cysts, thyroid cysts, etc. cause confusion with lymph nodes when palpated. Examination and diagnosis of these diseases should be performed by a specialist.
3.3. Lymph node tuberculosis is a fairly common disease and is most common in the neck, groin, and armpits. Tuberculosis lymph nodes often stick together in chains, clusters, smooth touch and painless. Unlike pulmonary tuberculosis, the disease is usually localized in the lymph nodes and is less contagious from healthy people to infected people. The cause of lymph node tuberculosis is the tubercle bacillus, which is treated with medical methods - using specialized TB drugs to inhibit and destroy pathogens.
3.4. Malignancy Some cancers such as Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma... also lead to cervical lymphadenitis. In some cases, cervical lymphadenopathy can be the result of metastasis from cancer cells in other organs such as throat cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, cancer in the oral cavity, lung cancer, larynx cancer. , breast cancer... Nodes may appear singly or in clusters, most of them are firm and the size depends on each disease and the stage of disease progression.
To determine whether cervical lymph nodes are benign or malignant, doctors use common tests such as lymph node biopsy for pathology, cytology...
3.5. Other causes Some other causes can lead to swollen lymph nodes in the neck as follows:
Side effects when taking some drugs such as carbamazepine, phenytoin... Side effects after vaccination against measles, typhoid, mumps. .. Systemic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus, HIV/AIDS.
Có nhiều nguyên nhân khác nhau gây ra viêm hạch cổ ở người bệnh
4. Measures to help reduce swelling of the neck lymph nodes
In case the neck lymph nodes appear due to an infection, the patient can use hot compresses to help reduce swelling and pain. In addition, the patient also needs to arrange a reasonable time to rest and work, always keep the spirit comfortable and refreshed, build a reasonable diet will help improve the medical condition.
Thus, the condition of swollen lymph nodes in the neck can be due to many different causes, in case due to infectious causes, the lymph nodes will disappear on their own when the condition improves and does not affect health much. However, cases due to malignancies are extremely dangerous and life-threatening. Therefore, patients who appear to have lymph nodes in the neck with suspicion of malignancy should monitor their health and go to medical facilities for examination, diagnosis and reasonable treatment.
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