You’ve probably had swollen glands at some point in your life, such as when you’ve had a cold or other infection. Swollen glands are actuallyswollen lymph nodes，这通常是有反应性淋巴结。您也可能会听到这种情况称为反应性淋巴结病。
You have groups of small, bean-shaped lymph nodes all throughout your body. They’re located in your neck, underarms, chest, abdomen, and groin. They’re part of the lymphatic system, which is also part of your immune system. The lymphatic system helps fight off infections and keep them from spreading.
Your doctor may use the term “reactive lymph nodes” when examining you for a swelling or mass. If you have a活检大量的情况下，当您在查看实验室结果时，您也可能会看到对反应性淋巴结的引用。这意味着您的淋巴结对您身体的某些东西反应。
However, it’s usually not a reaction to anything serious. In fact,most of the time, reactive lymph nodes are harmless. Reactive lymph nodes aren’t caused by an infection or cancer within the lymph node itself.
Read on to learn more about reactive lymph nodes, what causes them, and when you should be concerned.
通常，您无法觉得自己的淋巴结。然而，当它们肿胀或反应时，当你的手反对你的皮肤时，你可能会感受到它们。他们可能会像豌豆一样小或像高尔夫球一样小。您甚至可以看到颈部，腋窝或腹股沟中的肿胀。
Keep in mind that you can have reactive lymph nodes in multiple areas of your body.
In addition to swelling, it’s possible to feel the following when you touch your lymph nodes:
- 压痛
- 疼痛
- warmth
Depending on the underlying cause, you might also have a range of other symptoms. If your lymph nodes are responding to an upper reparatory infection, for example, you could have a runny nose, sore throat, or fever.
Swollen lymph nodes can occur in just one area of the body or in multiple locations.
Reactive lymph nodes are a sign that your lymphatic system is working hard to protect you. Lymph fluid builds up in lymph nodes in an effort to trap bacteria, viruses, or other harmful pathogens. This helps to keep the infection from spreading to other parts of your body.
They also sometimes occur as a result of anautoimmune disease, such as lupus. These are conditions that involve your immune system mistakenly attacking our body’s tissues.
In addition, children经常experience reactive lymph nodes as they first come into contact with new germs throughout childhood, even if they don’t have an infection.
可能导致活性淋巴结的一些常见细菌或病毒感染包括：
- 咽喉炎
- ear infection
- tooth abscess
- skin or wound infection
- mononucleosis
- human immunodeficiency virus
Other causes include:
- sexually transmitted infections
- toxoplasmosis
- 狼疮
- rheumatoid arthritis
- 对某些抗肿瘤和疟疾预防药物的反应
- 麻疹
The location of the reactive lymph nodes can help you narrow down the cause. For instance, swollen lymph nodes in your neck may be due to an upper respiratory infection. A tooth infection might cause swollen lymph nodes around your jaw. HIV, mononucleosis, and immune system disorders can lead to swollen lymph nodes throughout your body.
Swollen lymph nodes are很少caused by cancer. When they are, it’s usually related to淋巴瘤要么leukemia, which both involve the lymphatic system. However, enlarged lymph nodes can also be a sign that other types of cancer, such as乳腺癌, have spread (metastasized) to your lymph nodes.
如果您注意到您的淋巴结感觉很难或不可移动，请与您的医生预约。
Reactive lymph nodes are usually a symptom of an underlying infection, so your doctor will start by asking about your other symptoms and taking your vital signs. They may also feel your lymph nodes and ask if you experience any pain or tenderness while they do it.
Depending on your symptoms and what they find during a physical examination, they may also order a blood test or imaging test, such as an MRI scan. They may also decide to活检a lymph node. This involves using a needle to take a small tissue sample and analyzing it for signs of cancer. If you have cancer, this can also help your doctor determine whether it’s spread.
肿胀的淋巴结通常不需要治疗。一些次要的病毒感染，如流感，只需运行他们的课程。病毒感染不能用抗生素治疗。
To help with painful or tender lymph nodes while you heal, try:
- applying a warm, wet compress to the swollen area
- 服用over-the-counter pain relievers
- 得到充足的休息和液体
其他感染，例如细菌感染，可能需要抗生素或其他药物。如果您有自身免疫性或癌症，您的治疗方案将取决于您条件的类型和阶段。
反应性淋巴结通常只是一个迹象，即你的免疫系统正在通过战斗感染来完成工作。当你愈合时，它们应该掉下来。如果他们感到困难或似乎没有萎缩，因为你的疾病解决了（通常在一周内或一两分钟内），请联系你的医生。