Saturday, February, 11, 2012

Lymphadenitis and lymphangitis

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Lymph node infection; Lymph gland infection; Localized lymphadenopathy


Symptoms
  • Red, tender skin over lymph node
  • Swollen, tender, or hard lymph nodes

Lymph nodes may feel rubbery if an abscess has formed.


Signs and tests

The health care provider will perform a physical exam, which includes feeling your lymph nodes and looking for signs of injury or infection around any swollen lymph nodes.

A biopsy and culture of the affected area or node may reveal the cause of the inflammation. Blood cultures may reveal spread of infection to the bloodstream.


Review Date: 06/09/2011
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)