Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped glands that play a crucial role in the immune system. They filter lymphatic fluid, which helps rid the body of germs and remove waste products.
The body contains hundreds of lymph nodes. They form clusters around the body and are particularly prominent in areas such as the neck, armpit and groin and behind the ears.
The bodys cells and tissues dispose of waste products in lymphatic fluid, which lymph nodes then filter. During this process, they catch bacteria and viruses that could harm the rest of the body.
Lymph nodes are an essential part of the bodys immune system. Due to their function, they come into contact with toxins, which can cause them to swell. Although swollen lymph nodes are common, they may occasionally indicate lymph node cancer, or lymphoma.
Keep on reading to learn more about lymph nodes and their function within the immune system.
Lymph nodes are part of the lymphatic system, which is a complex network of nodes and vessels.
In certain areas of the body, such as the neck, armpit, and groin, lymph nodes sit close to the skin. This means a person may feel them swell when an infection develops.
Lymph nodes are also present in the stomach and between the lungs. However, there are no lymph nodes in the brain or spinal cord.
The name of a lymph node depends on its location in the body.
Lymph nodes form clusters throughout the body. Their main function is to filter out potentially harmful substances.
All tissues and cells in the body excrete lymphatic fluid, or lymph, in order to eliminate waste products. The lymph then travels through vessels in the lymphatic system and passes through lymph nodes for filtering.
Lymph nodes contain lymphocytes. These are a type of white blood cells that help destroy pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. When lymph nodes detect a pathogen in the lymph, they produce more lymphocytes, which causes them to swell.
Upon encountering bacteria or damaged cells, lymph nodes destroy them and turn them into a waste product.
When the lymph reenters the bloodstream, waste products travel to the kidneys and liver. The body then excretes waste products in the urine and feces.
Learn more about how the lymphatic system works here.
Swollen lymph nodes do not always indicate cancer. Below, we list some of many conditions that can cause lymph node swelling.
Lymphadenitis occurs when bacteria, viruses, or fungi in the lymph infect lymph nodes. When this happens, lymph nodes swell and are painful to the touch.
If multiple clusters of nodes become infected, a person may feel pain and swelling in both their neck and groin.
The most common type of lymphadenitis is localized lymphadenitis. This means the condition only affects a few nodes. If the infection occurs in several node clusters, a doctor will likely diagnose generalized lymphadenitis.
The condition usually results from an infection elsewhere in the body.
Symptoms of lymphadenitis include:
Lymphadenitis treatments include:
The type of treatment necessary will depend on a variety of factors, such as the severity of the disease and a persons underlying conditions and allergies. A doctor will help a person choose the most suitable treatment based on these factors.
Learn more about swollen lymph nodes in the neck here.
Swollen lymph nodes in the neck may be due to a viral or bacterial throat infection, such as strep throat.
Viral throat infections, such as colds, can present with swollen lymph nodes, a runny nose, and pinkeye.
These infections usually resolve on their own. However, a person can take over-the-counter pain relievers to alleviate pain they may experience when swallowing.
Strep throat is a bacterial infection that develops in the throat and tonsils due to group A streptococcus. People may contract strep throat if they come into contact with droplets containing the strep bacteria.
A person with strep throat may experience swollen lymph nodes on the neck, a sore throat, a fever, and red spots on the roof of the mouth.
Doctors treat strep throat with antibiotics.
Impetigo is an infection that develops due to group A streptococcus and may cause lymph nodes in the armpits and groin to swell.
A person can contract impetigo when the bacteria enter the body through a break in the skin. This can happen through sharing a towel, razor, or yoga mat.
Symptoms of impetigo include:
If a person has impetigo, they should seek medical attention to address their symptoms and prevent the condition from spreading to others.
Treatment will usually involve antibiotics.
Ringworm, or jock itch, is a fungal infection that can affect many areas of the body. If the fungus develops in the groin, a person may experience lymph node swelling in that area.
Typically, ringworm starts as a fungal lesion. The fungus often transmits when people share towels or razors.
Ringworm thrives in moist environments, and therefore a person should take care to dry thoroughly after a wash and try not to stay in damp clothes.
Common ringworm symptoms include:
A doctor will prescribe an antifungal treatment to address ringworm.
The best way to prevent ringworm is to wear breathable fabrics, avoid sharing towels and razors, and dry thoroughly after bathing.
Learn more about swollen lymph nodes in the groin here.
Lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system. The two main types of lymphoma are Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Hodgkin lymphoma occurs when cancer cells spread from one cluster of lymph nodes to another. By contrast, in non-Hodgkin lymphoma, there is no order in how cancer cells spread throughout the lymphatic system.
Typical symptoms of lymphoma include:
These are also common symptoms of viral infections, which can make lymphoma hard to diagnose. However, in people with lymphoma, symptoms tend to persist for longer periods of time.
It is of note that these symptoms do not clearly indicate cancer. If a person experiences any of these, they should contact a doctor to identify the cause of their symptoms.
Treatment options for lymphoma include:
A person should contact a healthcare professional if they are experiencing persistent swelling of lymph nodes.
Swelling usually indicates an infection, and therefore a person should not immediately worry about lymphoma.
After reaching a diagnosis, a doctor will recommend the appropriate course of treatment.
Lymph nodes are a part of the lymphatic system. They filter lymph, which contains pathogens and damaged cells, and send the dead cells to the kidneys and liver.
Lymph node swelling usually results from an infection. In rare cases, however, it may be due to lymphoma.
If a person is concerned about swelling and other symptoms they have, they should contact a doctor.
See the article here:
Lymph nodes: Purpose, location, and disease warning signs - Medical News Today
- Using stem cell-derived heart muscle cells to advance heart regenerative therapy - Medical Xpress - April 28th, 2024
- John Cleese is spending thousands on stem cell therapy is it really the secret to anti-ageing? - Yahoo Lifestyle Australia - April 28th, 2024
- SUM Hospital conducts Odishas first stem cell transplantation - The Times of India - April 24th, 2024
- Cancer treatment: What is stem cell therapy, and how does it work? - Moneycontrol - April 24th, 2024
- The murky, unregulated world of anti-ageing stem cell therapy - The Telegraph - April 24th, 2024
- Drug Prototype Promising in Treatment of Pulmonary Disease - Medscape - April 20th, 2024
- Man Paralyzed In Surfing Accident Regains Ability to Walk After Stem Cell Treatment - The Inertia - April 20th, 2024
- Medical breakthrough: 8-year-old boy first in New York to receive FDA-approved gene therapy for rare inherited blood disorder - WABC-TV - April 20th, 2024
- Stem Cell Treatment Helped A Man Who Was Paralyzed From The Neck Down To Stand On His Own - Bored Panda - April 20th, 2024
- UM, CUHK jointly hold symposium on stem cells and regenerative medicine - gcs.gov.mo - April 20th, 2024
- Paralysed patient now able to walk as stem cell therapy shows promising results - WION - April 15th, 2024
- Andrew Steele Sees Aging as the Root of Disease - Worth - Worth Magazine - April 15th, 2024
- The astonishing effect of stem cell implants - as groundbreaking treatment 'transforms' life for those with brain damage ... - Daily Mail - April 15th, 2024
- Consumer Alert on Regenerative Medicine Products Including Stem Cells - FDA.gov - April 13th, 2024
- This Startup Wants To Be OpenAI Of Stem Cell Therapy, Targets $250B Market - Forbes - April 13th, 2024
- Brain-cell transplants are the newest experimental epilepsy treatment - MIT Technology Review - April 3rd, 2024
- Global Regenerative Medicine Market to Touch Valuation of USD 472.95 Billion by 2032, at 25.86% CAGR: Astute ... - Yahoo Finance - April 1st, 2024
- Explosive Growth Projected for Stem Cell Market, Expected to Surpass $37 Billion by 2030 As Revealed In New... - WhaTech - April 1st, 2024
- Integrating New Therapies With Autologous Stem Cell Transplant in Myeloma - Targeted Oncology - April 1st, 2024
- New tool provides researchers with improved understanding of stem cell aging in the brain - Medical Xpress - March 30th, 2024
- The ISSCR announces 2024 election results - EurekAlert - March 28th, 2024
- Exosomes and Stem Cells Are the Future of Anti-Aging - NewBeauty Magazine - March 28th, 2024
- Charles River Extends Gene Therapy Alliance with NUS Medicine - Contract Pharma - March 22nd, 2024
- Exciting opportunities in stem cell technology and regenerative biology in Indian healthcare industry - Express Healthcare - March 22nd, 2024
- Charles River Announces Extension of Gene Therapy Manufacturing Alliance with NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine - Yahoo Finance - March 22nd, 2024
- Opinion: The revolutionary sickle cell therapies - MSN - March 22nd, 2024
- 10 Years of Kansas Regenerative Medicine Center - KSAL - March 22nd, 2024
- BioCardia and StemCardia Announce Biotherapeutic Delivery Partnership - Diagnostic and Interventional Cardiology - March 17th, 2024
- Cynata Therapeutics' breakthrough in regenerative medicine - Finance News Network - March 17th, 2024
- New Positive Data Presented on Briquilimab Conditioning in Patients with Fanconi Anemia - GlobeNewswire - March 17th, 2024
- Novel 3D stem cell therapy to treat critical limb ischaemia - Drug Target Review - March 15th, 2024
- Breaking Boundaries: Pharmicell's Bold Vision for Healthcare Transformation and Monumental Growth - The Worldfolio - March 15th, 2024
- CuSTOM Organoid Research Evolving From Tool to Treatment - Research Horizons - Research Horizons - March 15th, 2024
- BioCardia and StemCardia Announce Partnership to Deliver Cell-Gene Therapy for Remuscularization of Heart - Cath Lab Digest - March 15th, 2024
- Calidi Biotherapeutics and City of Hope Announce Funding from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine ... - Business Wire - March 13th, 2024
- Iron restriction keeps blood stem cells young, researchers find - Phys.org - March 13th, 2024
- Vitamin A could have a key role in both stem cell biology and wound healing: Study - Medical Dialogues - March 9th, 2024
- Trends in Stem Cell Transplantation Refusal for Myeloma Treatment - Targeted Oncology - March 7th, 2024
- Stem Cell Therapy Market (CAGR) of 31.1%, Future of Market Size Emerging Technologies and their Impact on ... - Taiwan News - March 7th, 2024
- This Swedish startup wants to reduce the cost, and controversy, around stem cell production - TechCrunch - March 6th, 2024
- Advancing stem cell therapy: The regulatory process to get to clinical trials - The Economic Times - March 6th, 2024
- Transitioning from traditional surgical methods to the innovative use of stem cells - pharmaphorum - March 6th, 2024
- 'Mini organs' are grown from human stem cells taken during the late stages of pregnancy for the first time - m - Daily Mail - March 6th, 2024
- Stem cell transplant cures man of HIV and leukemia, one of five to achieve full remission - Fox 28 - March 3rd, 2024
- Stem Cell Therapy Market to Boost USD 137.5 Billion by 2034 and Projected to grow at 32.10% CAGR with increasing ... - Yahoo Finance - March 1st, 2024
- Studies expand use of stem cell therapies - WPLG Local 10 - March 1st, 2024
- Innovative therapy targets and destroys leukemia stem cells - News-Medical.Net - February 27th, 2024
- Unlocking the Potential of Stem Cells: The Medical Revolution of the Century - EIN News - February 27th, 2024
- Pelage Pharmaceuticals Announces $16.75M Series A Financing led by GV to Revolutionize Regenerative Medicine ... - Yahoo Finance - February 27th, 2024
- Say Her Name - Henrietta Lacks, The Real Mother Of Stem - Her Campus - February 27th, 2024
- California Man Free of HIV And Cancer in Astonishing Medical Recovery - ScienceAlert - February 25th, 2024
- $93 million for research into improved health for children, young people and the aged, medical devices, mental health ... - Department of Health - February 25th, 2024
- Stem Cells in Regenerative Medicine - PMC - National Center for ... - February 24th, 2024
- The Promise and Reality of Stem Cell Therapy: What You Need to Know - Corporate Wellness Magazine - February 22nd, 2024
- Stem Cell Therapy: A Beacon of Hope for Patients with Untreatable Conditions - Corporate Wellness Magazine - February 22nd, 2024
- Leading Experts in Stem Cell Therapy: A Global Overview - Corporate Wellness Magazine - February 22nd, 2024
- Can Stem Cells Help Reverse the Effects of Aging? - Corporate Wellness Magazine - February 22nd, 2024
- Stem Cell Therapy for Cancer: Hope on the Horizon? - Corporate Wellness Magazine - February 22nd, 2024
- Stem Cells and Autism: A Closer Look at Innovative Treatments - Corporate Wellness Magazine - February 22nd, 2024
- Regrowth and Restoration: The Science Behind Stem Cell Therapy for Hair - Corporate Wellness Magazine - February 22nd, 2024
- Brain Recovery: The Role of Stem Cells in Stroke and Cerebral Palsy Treatments - Corporate Wellness Magazine - February 22nd, 2024
- Turning Back the Clock: The Science of Stem Cells in Anti-Aging - Corporate Wellness Magazine - February 22nd, 2024
- Insights into cellular therapies for cancer treatment - Drug Target Review - February 22nd, 2024
- The Role of Stem Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis Recovery - Corporate Wellness Magazine - February 22nd, 2024
- Dr Ernesto Romeros vision transforms immunotherapy regenerative medicine into a global leader in stem cell treatment - Khaleej Times - February 22nd, 2024
- World-Renowned Doctors Leading the Way in Stem Cell Research and Treatment - Medical Tourism Magazine - February 20th, 2024
- Choosing the Best: A Guide to America's Premier Stem Cell Therapy Providers - Medical Tourism Magazine - February 20th, 2024
- Navigating Through the Possibilities of Stem Cell Treatment for Eye Disorders - Medical Tourism Magazine - February 20th, 2024
- Global Leaders in Stem Cell Therapy: Where Excellence Meets Innovation - Medical Tourism Magazine - February 20th, 2024
- Excellence in Stem Cell Treatment: How the US is Pioneering Global Healthcare Solutions - Medical Tourism Magazine - February 20th, 2024
- Clarifying Memory Loss Treatments: The Role of Stem Cells - Medical Tourism Magazine - February 20th, 2024
- Battling Inflammation: Stem Cell Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis - Medical Tourism Magazine - February 20th, 2024
- Digestive Health and Stem Cells: Treating Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease - Medical Tourism Magazine - February 20th, 2024
- Top Stem Cell Clinics in the USA: Pioneering Treatments for Chronic Conditions - Medical Tourism Magazine - February 20th, 2024
- Stem Cells and Autism: Understanding the Potential for Innovative Treatments - Medical Tourism Magazine - February 20th, 2024
- Stopping the awakening of sleeping Acute Myeloid Leukaemia stem cells to prevent disease relapse - University of Birmingham - February 20th, 2024
- City of Hope Achieves Ground Breaking Treatment for Blood Cancer and HIV - Medriva - February 18th, 2024
- Regenerative Medicine Market Size to Worth USD 95 Billion by 2032 - InvestorsObserver - February 18th, 2024
- North America Organoids Market Projected to Reach US$ 5.35 Billion by 2030, Riding on a CAGR of 21.5% - GlobeNewswire - February 18th, 2024
- Chinese team tests lung treatment that may be first to reverse COPD damage - South China Morning Post - February 15th, 2024
Recent Comments