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Lymphadenitis

By

Wingfield E. Rehmus

, MD, MPH, University of British Columbia

Reviewed/Revised Jun 2023
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Lymphadenitis is infection of one or more lymph nodes, which usually become swollen and tender.

Lymph Overview of the Lymphatic System The lymphatic system is a vital part of the immune system. It includes organs such as the thymus, bone marrow, spleen, tonsils, appendix, and Peyer patches in the small intestine that produce... read more is a fluid that oozes out of the body's tiniest blood vessels and is part of the body’s immune system Overview of the Immune System The immune system is designed to defend the body against foreign or dangerous invaders. Such invaders include Microorganisms (commonly called germs, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi) Parasites... read more . The fluid goes between cells and brings nourishment and carries away substances such as damaged cells, cancer cells, and infectious microorganisms. All lymph passes through lymphatic vessels to strategically placed lymph nodes. Lymph nodes and specialized white blood cells in lymph nodes work to remove these substances and foreign particles from the body. (See figure .)

Lymphadenitis almost always results from an infection, which may be caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi. Typically, the infection spreads to a lymph node from a skin, ear, nose, or eye infection or from such infections as infectious mononucleosis Infectious Mononucleosis Epstein-Barr virus causes a number of diseases, including infectious mononucleosis. The virus is spread through kissing. Symptoms vary, but the most common are extreme fatigue, fever, sore throat... read more Infectious Mononucleosis , cytomegalovirus infection Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Infection Cytomegalovirus infection is a common herpesvirus infection with a wide range of symptoms: from no symptoms to fever and fatigue (resembling infectious mononucleosis) to severe symptoms involving... read more , streptococcal infection Streptococcal Infections Streptococcal infections are caused by any one of several species of Streptococcus. These gram-positive, sphere-shaped (coccal) bacteria (see figure ) cause many disorders, including... read more , tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) Tuberculosis is a chronic contagious infection caused by the airborne bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It usually affects the lungs, but almost any organ can be involved. Tuberculosis... read more Tuberculosis (TB) , or syphilis Syphilis Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum. It can occur in three stages of symptoms, separated by periods of apparent good health. Syphilis... read more Syphilis . The infection may affect many lymph nodes or only those in one area of the body.

Symptoms of Lymphadenitis

Diagnosis of Lymphadenitis

  • A doctor's evaluation

  • Sometimes aspiration and culture or a tissue biopsy

Usually, lymphadenitis can be diagnosed based on the symptoms, and its cause is an obvious nearby infection.

When the cause cannot be identified easily, a doctor inserts a needle into a lymph node and withdraws (aspirates) fluid. The fluid sample is then sent to a laboratory for culture (the sample is placed in a culture medium that allows microorganisms to grow). The culture can identify the organism causing the infection. Alternatively, the doctor can do a biopsy (removal and examination of a piece of the lymph node under a microscope).

Treatment of Lymphadenitis

  • Antibiotics

Treatment of lymphadenitis depends on the organism causing the infection. For a bacterial infection, an antibiotic is usually given by vein (intravenously) or by mouth. Other medications are given for a fungal or parasitic infection.

Warm, wet compresses may help relieve the pain in inflamed lymph nodes. Usually, once the infection has been treated, the lymph nodes slowly shrink, and the pain subsides. Sometimes the enlarged nodes remain firm but no longer feel tender.

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