Lymph fluid from the breast, part of the abdomen, arms and neck flows through these nodes and enters the circulatory system. When bacteria enter the body, they are carried by the lymphatic system to the lymph nodes. White blood cells located in lymph nodes will attack and destroy pathogens. In other words, lymph nodes act as a barrier to protect the body.
There are many reasons why the body has swollen lymph nodes. The most common cause is the body’s inflammatory response to common diseases such as sore throat or viral infections. Besides Although the probability is lower, swollen lymph nodes can be a symptom of some serious diseases such as tuberculosis or even lymphoma or cancer in other organs that has spread to the lymph nodes.
According to Hanoi Oncology Hospital, the following cases often lead to swollen axillary lymph nodes:
Swollen lymph nodes due to infection
This is the most common cause including both acute and chronic infections. Inflammation of skin wounds in the armpits and surrounding areas such as the breasts, arms, and hands. Both hands can cause swollen and painful axillary lymph nodes, called reactive lymph nodes. Normally, these lymph nodes will shrink after the cause of infection is completely treated.
In case of chronic infection. The most common condition is lymph node tuberculosis, these lymph nodes will not disappear but persist and tend to increase in number and size, sticking together into clusters and sticking to surrounding tissues, causing restriction of movement.
Some other infectious diseases can also be the cause of lymph nodes such as HIV-AIDS, Brucellosis, cat-scratch disease, etc.
Axillary lymph nodes in children after tuberculosis vaccination
Some young children may develop axillary lymph nodes on the left side (corresponding to the side of vaccination) a few weeks to a few months after receiving the BCG vaccine.
Normally, these lymph nodes cause little pain, fever, and do not fester and will heal on their own. A few lymph nodes become swollen, red, and sometimes ooze pus, causing the child to have a fever and pain and cry a lot. At this time, parents need to take the child to the facility nearest medical clinic for examination and advice.
Malignant diseases
Some cancers are also the cause of axillary lymph nodes such as: Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, breast cancer, melanoma, acute leukemia…
Armpit lymph nodes due to malignant disease increase in size over time but are less painful, sometimes accompanied by prolonged fatigue, fever of unknown cause, night sweats, weight loss, sometimes you can feel an abnormal mass in the breast. … These symptoms do not always appear clearly and typically.
To determine whether an axillary lymph node is malignant or not, people often use a cytology test. Use a small needle to take some cell samples and observe under a microscope or biopsy lymph nodes for pathology.
Symptoms of swollen axillary lymph nodes include both benign and malignant causes, therefore When painful, swollen armpit lymph nodes appear or persist for a long time and do not disappear, you need to go to a reputable specialist facility to have the cause diagnosed and treated promptly.
“
