What causes swollen lymph nodes and are they serious?
Disease description:
I haven't been doing anything out of the ordinary lately, yet the lymph node in this area has become swollen and extremely painful. I would like to know, what are the causes of swollen lymph nodes, and is it serious?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Feng
Lymphadenopathy can be caused by various factors, and its severity needs to be determined based on the specific underlying cause.
1. Inflammation: This includes nonspecific lymphadenitis and simple lymphadenitis, typically triggered by acute or chronic inflammation in the draining area. For example, acute suppurative tonsillitis can cause cervical lymph node enlargement.
2. Tumors: Lymphadenopathy caused by tumors includes both primary malignant tumors of the lymph nodes and metastatic malignant tumors that have spread to the lymph nodes.
3. Non-infectious diseases: Such as connective tissue disorders (e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren's syndrome) and hematologic disorders (e.g., acute leukemia, lymphoma), which may also lead to lymph node enlargement.
If lymphadenopathy is caused by infections such as upper respiratory tract infection, stomatitis, or acute cellulitis, it is generally not serious. However, if it is caused by malignant lymphoma, metastatic tumors, or similar conditions, it is typically more severe.
