Why Do Lymph Nodes Swell
Lymph nodes are a very important part of the immune system as they are responsible for identifying and fighting viruses, bacteria, germs, infections and other external agents. Lymph nodes are located in many parts of the body, but you can feel them in areas like the neck, groin, armpit, behind the ears and under the chin.
Swollen lymph nodes are a warning signal that the body sends to warn you that something is wrong and that the immune system is struggling to combat an infection or disease. There are many causes of lymphadenopathy, a term that refers to this swelling; so if you want to know what are the most common reasons, we invite you to read this OneHowTo article about why lymph nodes swell.
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The most common cause of why lymph nodes swell are infections. Any type of infection can cause this reaction in the immune system, but the most common are: mononucleosis, ear infection, gingivitis, tonsillitis, dental abscesses, tuberculosis or skin infections.
Another reason why the nodes swell is diseases attacking the immune system. In this case it is immune or autoimmune diseases such as HIV or rheumatoid arthritis. In the case of HIV inflammation of the lymph node is one of the main signs that a person has been infected with the virus, but does not mean you have AIDS.
Some cancers can cause inflammation of the lymph node. Usually these are cancers that suppress the immune system, such as leukemia, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Hodgkin's disease.
When a person has breast cancer you may have swollen glands in your armpit, usually this inflammation is painful and requires a medical check-up of the area to rule out the possibility that cancer has metastasized in the lymph nodes.
Some medicines may be the answer to why the nodes are swollen. The best known remedies that cause this side effect are anticonvulsants and the typhoid vaccine. In these cases it is necessary that the person arranges an appointment with their doctor to review the effect that the medication is causing and decide whether to suspend the medication or to seek an alternative treatment.
Lymph nodes found in the neck area may swell when a person has a cold. However, swollen glands in this area may also be a response to a sore throat, a bite or a cut in the mouth or the presence of a tumor or infection in the mouth, neck or head. It may even feel like something is stuck in your throat.
To know why lymph nodes become inflamed in the groin you should know that the most common causes are injuries to the feet, legs and even on the genitals. However, we must be very careful because these nodes may also swell when there is the presence of a tumor in the testicles or if you're suffering from melanoma, a type of skin cancer.
Lupus, toxoplasmosis, syphilis, Gaucher disease and Mediterranean fever are other conditions that can bring side effects such as inflammation of the lymph nodes. As you may have read there are many reasons to answer why do lymph nodes swell, so the best way to find the cause if you notice this symptom is to visit a specialist who can examine you and take appropriate action.
This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.
If you want to read similar articles to Why Do Lymph Nodes Swell, we recommend you visit our Diseases & secondary effects category.
