Lymphadenopathy - What Are Some Basics on This Condition?

Lymphadenopathy is a term commonly used to describe lymph nodes that are enlarged or swollen. The literal meaning of the word means "disease of the lymph nodes." It is slightly different than lymphadenitis, which is inflammation, however, the difference between the two conditions is rarely made in actual practice. Causes for the condition can be any one or more out of many possibilities, some of which are mentioned later in this article.

There are two forms of the disease, one of which is localized lymphadenopathy. In this case, a particular location of infection can lead to the swelling. On the other hand, in generalized lymphadenopathy, an infection throughout the body can lead to enlarged nodes in various locations. PGL, the "persistent" form of the general type, can stay for a long time with no known cause.

The potential causes of enlarged lymph nodes are numerous. For this article, we a few are introduced. Tumors and cancers are one section of possibilities, including items such as both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, breast cancer, hair cell leukemia, neuroblastoma, and others. Some bites from venomous snakes and spiders can also bring it about. An acute or chronic infection also can in some cases, such as infectious mononucleosis, cat-scratch disease, and toxoplasmosis.

Treatment methods are often aimed at the underlying medical cause behind the lymphadenopathy. Additionally, symptomatic treatment may be desired by some in order to make the symptoms easier to go through. The main symptom of the condition is the swollen lymph nodes, however, other such as fever are also possible.