Shenay Isaac
Lymphatic system disorders
Lymphadenitis
This is when the lymph nodes become swollen because of infection. The number of microbes that
are collected from tissue fluid circulates in the lymph vessels, and then pass through the lymph
nodes may be too large for the macrophages in the nodes to ingest. This causes the nodes to
become infected, enlarged and tender and the lymph nodes make more infection-fighting white
blood cells, which can cause swelling. In young children, it is mild, but in adolescents and adults, it
may be severe and could lead to a ruptured spleen that would have to be surgically removed
immediately. This infection may be due to bacteria, virus or fungi. It is more likely to be bacteria and
the most common ones that causes this are streptococcus and staphylococcus.
Symptoms
Glandular fever is an acute infection caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. The symptoms include:
Fever
Sore throat
Abdominal lymphocytes
Enlarged spleen and liver
Swollen lymph glands
Sometimes abscess is formed
Treatments
Fortunately, usually the swelling goes down with treatment (antibiotics to combat the bacterial
infection) but in some severe cases, lymphadenectomy must be conducted. This is the removal of
the infected lymph nodes, such as tonsils or adenoids. To relieve the pain of this condition,
analgesics are given to the infected person and anti-inflammatory drugs are used to calm the
severity of the swelling and inflamed nodes.
Lymphedema
This condition causes lymph vessels are obstructed and tissue fluid cannot be sufficiently drained
from tissues. It leads to edema. The cause of lymphedema is due to the compromise of the
lymphatic system. It can be incurable/progressive. This condition is not rare and affects over 140
million people every year.
Primary lymphedema can be divided into two categories. Inherited/genetically caused and
congenital cause. Genetically caused means this lymphedema is caused by faulty genes that
affect the development of the lymphatic system and can develop
at any age. However, this condition usually starts during infancy,
adolescence, or early adulthood. Congenital means that you were
born with this condition.
Secondary lymphedema is caused by damage to the lymphatic
system or problems with the movement and drainage of fluid in
the lymphatic system. It can be a result of many different things
including parasitic infections e.g. filarial worms that causes a
condition called lymphatic filariasis. Additonally, when having
cancer treatmens such as chemotherapy on breast cancer, the
drugs may affect the lymph nodes and surgicl removal of the
lymph nodes can cause lymphedema.
Lymphatic system disorders
Lymphadenitis
This is when the lymph nodes become swollen because of infection. The number of microbes that
are collected from tissue fluid circulates in the lymph vessels, and then pass through the lymph
nodes may be too large for the macrophages in the nodes to ingest. This causes the nodes to
become infected, enlarged and tender and the lymph nodes make more infection-fighting white
blood cells, which can cause swelling. In young children, it is mild, but in adolescents and adults, it
may be severe and could lead to a ruptured spleen that would have to be surgically removed
immediately. This infection may be due to bacteria, virus or fungi. It is more likely to be bacteria and
the most common ones that causes this are streptococcus and staphylococcus.
Symptoms
Glandular fever is an acute infection caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. The symptoms include:
Fever
Sore throat
Abdominal lymphocytes
Enlarged spleen and liver
Swollen lymph glands
Sometimes abscess is formed
Treatments
Fortunately, usually the swelling goes down with treatment (antibiotics to combat the bacterial
infection) but in some severe cases, lymphadenectomy must be conducted. This is the removal of
the infected lymph nodes, such as tonsils or adenoids. To relieve the pain of this condition,
analgesics are given to the infected person and anti-inflammatory drugs are used to calm the
severity of the swelling and inflamed nodes.
Lymphedema
This condition causes lymph vessels are obstructed and tissue fluid cannot be sufficiently drained
from tissues. It leads to edema. The cause of lymphedema is due to the compromise of the
lymphatic system. It can be incurable/progressive. This condition is not rare and affects over 140
million people every year.
Primary lymphedema can be divided into two categories. Inherited/genetically caused and
congenital cause. Genetically caused means this lymphedema is caused by faulty genes that
affect the development of the lymphatic system and can develop
at any age. However, this condition usually starts during infancy,
adolescence, or early adulthood. Congenital means that you were
born with this condition.
Secondary lymphedema is caused by damage to the lymphatic
system or problems with the movement and drainage of fluid in
the lymphatic system. It can be a result of many different things
including parasitic infections e.g. filarial worms that causes a
condition called lymphatic filariasis. Additonally, when having
cancer treatmens such as chemotherapy on breast cancer, the
drugs may affect the lymph nodes and surgicl removal of the
lymph nodes can cause lymphedema.
