Lymphadenopathy, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions

by Kenneth Kee

Overview

Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped glands present throughout the body.
They are part of the lymph system, which carries the lymph fluid, nutrients, and waste substances between the body tissues and the bloodstream.
The lymph system is an essential part of the immune system, the defense system of the body against disease.
The lymph nodes filter lymph fluid as it passes through them, trapping bacteria, viruses, and other foreign substances, which are then destroyed by lymphocytes (special forms of white blood cells).
Lymph nodes may be found singly or in groups.
The lymph node may be so small like the head of a pin or as large as an olive.
Clusters of lymph nodes can be felt in the neck, groin, and underarms.
Lymph nodes normally are not painful or tender.
Most lymph nodes in the body cannot be felt.
Swollen lymph nodes frequently occur in one location where an injury, infection, or tumor forms near or in the lymph node.
Finding which lymph nodes are swelling can assist in detecting the problem.
The lymph nodes on either side of the neck, behind the ears, or under the jaw, frequently become swollen when the patient has caught a cold or develops sore throat.
The lymph nodes can also become swollen after an injury such as a laceration or wound near the lymph node or when a tumor or infection forms in the mouth, head, or neck.
The lymph nodes in the armpit (axillary) may swell from an infection or injury to the arm or hand.
An occasional cause of axillary swelling may be due to lymph node involvement in breast cancer or lymphoma.
The lymph nodes in the groin (inguinal) may become swollen as a result of spread of germs from an injury or infection in the foot, leg, groin, or genitals.
Rarely, certain cancers such as testicular cancer, lymphoma, or melanoma may produce a swollen lymph node in this region.
The lymph nodes that are above the collarbone (supraclavicular) may become swollen from an infection or tumor in the regions of the lungs, breasts, neck, or abdomen.
The lymph nodes are clusters of lymphatic cells present with some extracellular matrix that are not surrounded by a connective tissue capsule.
They contain proliferating B-lymphocytes and some macrophages.
T-lymphocytes are located outside the germinal center.
They filter the germs and attack the antigens.
In some areas of the body, many lymphatic nodules cluster together to form larger structures
Lymph nodes are found throughout the body.
They are an important part of the immune system.
The lymph nodes assist the body detects and fight the germs, infections, and other foreign bodies.
The term "swollen glands" refers to enlargement of one or more lymph nodes.
The medical term for swollen lymph nodes is lymphadenopathy.
In a child, a node is considered enlarged if it is more than 1 centimeter (0.4 inch) wide.
Frequent areas where the lymph nodes can be palpated (felt) with the fingers) are:
1. Groin
2. Armpit
3. Neck (there is a chain of lymph nodes on either side of the front of the neck, both sides of the neck, and along each side of the back of the neck)
4. Under the jaw and chin
5. Behind the ears
6. At the back of the head
Causes
Infections are the most frequent cause of swollen lymph nodes.
Infections that can cause them are:
1. Abscessed or impacted tooth
2. Ear infection
3. Colds, flu, and other infections
4. Gingivitis
5. Mononucleosis
6. Mouth sores
7. Sexually transmitted illness
8. Tonsillitis
9. Tuberculosis
10. Skin infections
Other than swollen lymph nodes, blood tests, an ultrasound scan or computerized tomography (CT) scan, and a biopsy may be needed.
The treatment is dependent on the cause of the swollen nodes.
Swollen lymph glands are normally a sign of infection or cancer.

TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Lymphadenopathy
Chapter 2 Causes
Chapter 3 Symptoms
Chapter 4 Diagnosis
Chapter 5 Treatment
Chapter 6 Prognosis
Chapter 7 Lymphadenitis
Chapter 8 Lymphoma
Epilogue

Product Details

BN ID:	2940154388587
Publisher:	Kenneth Kee
Publication date:	05/25/2017
Sold by:	Smashwords
Format:	eBook
File size:	117 KB

About the Author

Medical doctor since 1972. Started Kee Clinic in 1974 at 15 Holland Dr #03-102, relocated to 36 Holland Dr #01-10 in 2009. Did my M.Sc (Health Management ) in 1991 and Ph.D (Healthcare Administration) in 1993. Dr Kenneth Kee is still working as a family doctor at the age of 65. However he has reduced his consultation hours to 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon. He first started writing free blogs on medical conditions seen in the clinic in 2007 on http://kennethkee.blogspot.com. His purpose in writing these simple guides was for the health education of his patients which is also his dissertation for his Ph.D (Healthcare Administration). He then wrote an autobiolographical account of his journey as a medical student to family doctor on his other blog afamilydoctorstale.blogspot.com. This autobiolographical account “A Family Doctor’s Tale” was combined with his early “A Simple Guide to Medical Conditions” into a new Wordpress Blog “A Family Doctor’s Tale” on http://ken-med.com. From which many free articles from the blog was taken and put together into 550 amazon kindle books and some into Smashwords.com eBooks. He apologized for typos and spelling mistakes in his earlier books. He will endeavor to improve the writing in futures. Some people have complained that the simple guides are too simple. For their information they are made simple in order to educate the patients. The later books go into more details of medical conditions. The first chapter of all my ebooks is always taken from my blog A Simple Guide to Medical Conditions which was started in 2007 as a simple educational help to my patients on my first blog http://kennethkee.blogspot.com. The medical condition was described simply and direct to the point. Because the simple guide as taken from the blog was described as too simple, I have increased the other chapters to include more detailed description of the illness, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. As a result there are the complaints by some readers of constant repetitions of the same contents but in detail and fairly up to date. He has published 550 eBooks on various subjects on health, 1 autobiography of his medical journey, another on the autobiography of a Cancer survivor, 2 children stories and one how to study for his nephew and grand-daughter. The purpose of these simple guides is to educate patient on health conditions and not meant as textbooks. He does not do any night duty since 2000 ever since Dr Tan had his second stroke. His clinic is now relocated to the Bouna Vista Community Centre. The 2 units of his original clinic are being demolished to make way for a new Shopping Mall. He is now doing some blogging and internet surfing (bulletin boards since the 1980's) starting with the Apple computer and going to PC. All the PC is upgraded by himself from XT to the present Pentium duo core. The present Intel i7 CPU is out of reach at the moment because the CPU is still expensive. He is also into DIY changing his own toilet cistern and other electric appliance. His hunger for knowledge has not abated and he is a lifelong learner. The children have all grown up and there are 2 grandchildren who are even more technically advanced than the grandfather where mobile phones are concerned. This book is taken from some of the many articles in his blog (now with 740 posts) A Family Doctor’s Tale. Dr Kee is the author of: "A Family Doctor's Tale" "Life Lessons Learned From The Study And Practice Of Medicine" "Case Notes From A Family Doctor"