Inflamed lymph node under the jaw wisdom tooth

Causes of inflammation

The structure of the lymphatic system is very complex and intricate, but the mechanism of its operation is simple: when an infection enters the body or a failure of internal organs is caused by the growth of new cells or the synthesis of an atypical protein, the brain signals this to the nearest lymph nodes, which immediately react with increased production of lymphocytes that attack atypical cells and removing their waste products from the body using lymph.

At the same time, the lymph nodes working at an increased rate may become enlarged, and if the problem is serious, an inflammatory process may develop, accompanied by severe pain and suppuration. The causes of inflammation of the lymph nodes under the jaw are:

• chronic bacterial infections of the upper respiratory tract or ear canals;
• ARVI, diseases of the nose and throat: otitis media, tonsillitis, laryngitis, sore throat and others;
• dental pathologies: purulent abscess, dental flux or cyst, alveolitis, oral wounds and deep caries;
• endocrinological diseases;
• parasites;
• piggy;
• chicken pox;
• infected wounds located near the jaw;
• neoplasms: both benign and malignant;
• diseases of the immune system.

According to statistics, inflammation of the lymph nodes under the jaw in a child is caused in 60% of cases by diseases of the teeth and bone tissue of the jaw, in 30% by inflammation of the upper respiratory tract and ENT organs, and 10% of cases are due to all other causes.

Determination of an inflamed lymph node

An inflamed lymph node under the jaw, on the jaw or neck can be easily palpated in an adult who has repeatedly suffered from infectious diseases.

This is due to the fact that with each inflammation it suffers, it increases in size and becomes denser, which significantly distinguishes it from those groups of nodes that were not inflamed.

However, in a child, even these most accessible lymph nodes for diagnosis are difficult to identify during inflammation. The fewer diseases that cause inflammation of the lymph nodes a person has suffered, the less they increase in size.

The lymph node enlarges when it cannot independently cope with an attack on the body by pathogenic organisms or with defective cells that provoke inflammation of surrounding tissues or organs. As a result, the node itself becomes inflamed.

Delayed treatment can aggravate the course of the disease, which leads to suppuration of the inflamed lymph nodes.

Symptoms of inflammation of the lymph nodes

At the initial stage, inflammation of the lymph nodes under the jaw is manifested by the following symptoms:

• increase in size of lymph nodes;
• mobility of enlarged lymph nodes;
• changes in skin color at the site of inflammation;
• pain that manifests itself when rotating the head and feeling the nodes;

• increased temperature;
• the appearance of weakness, severe fatigue;
• increased sweating;
• sleep disturbance.

Complicated inflammation of the lymph nodes under the jaw, requiring immediate treatment, is manifested by the following symptoms:

• the lymph node hurts even when the head is motionless and at rest;
• jaw movements are limited;
• the skin in the area of ​​the node is red;
• body temperature rises.

If lymphadenitis has developed into a purulent form, then the following symptoms are observed:

• the lesion process affects neighboring areas and can spread to the neck and collarbone;
• skin changes color to blue;
• temperature rises to 40 degrees;
• general exhaustion.

Acute inflammation of the lymph nodes manifests itself in 3 forms:

• catarrhal – a process without suppuration;
• hemorrhagic - the surface of the node is bright red, hemorrhagic exudate flows from the surface - red or pink liquid;
• purulent - gray-yellow pustules form, which can merge and form large cavities filled with pus.

Submandibular lymphadenitis: symptoms

What does submandibular lymphadenitis look like?

In the initial stage, lymphadenitis of the submandibular lymph nodes is asymptomatic. Gradually, the nodes under the lower jaw become tight, sensitive to touch, and increase in diameter. The transition of the disease to an acute form is accompanied by other symptoms:

• periodic pain (“shooting”) radiating to the ear
• redness of inflamed areas of the skin, which, as
• the progression of the disease takes on a burgundy hue
• swelling and swelling of the skin under the lower jaw
• local hyperthermia of lymph nodes
• pain when swallowing
• insomnia

If you do not see a doctor in time, the disease will progress rapidly. The swelling spreads to the entire lower jaw; it is difficult for the patient to sleep due to intense pain. Submandibular lymphadenitis affects the mucous membrane of the oral cavity: it becomes red and inflamed.

The general body temperature rises to 38-40°, attempts to open or close the mouth cause severe increasing pain. Signs of intoxication of the body appear: weakness, muscle aches, loss of appetite. At this stage, it is advisable to seek help from a specialist as soon as possible, otherwise pus will begin to accumulate in the inflamed lymph nodes.

A bluish tint of the skin at the site of the inflamed lymph node indicates a large amount of accumulated pus, which indicates an advanced stage of lymphadenitis.

If submandibular lymphadenitis is suspected, it is necessary to undergo a diagnosis from an appropriate doctor. A person without medical education is not able to determine the cause of the disease.

The symptoms of lymphadenitis are similar to other pathologies. It can be confused with inflammation of the salivary glands, cellulitis, abscess or tumor.

The chronic form of lymphadenitis of the submandibular nodes does not have pronounced signs, therefore, to establish a diagnosis, histological examination of the node tissue is recommended.

How to treat inflammation of the lymph nodes under the jaw

First, it is necessary to identify the disease that led to inflammation of the lymph nodes under the jaw and begin its treatment. As a rule, after treatment of the underlying disease, the inflammation also disappears: the node gradually decreases in size and stops hurting. But you can also speed up the healing process if, together with the main treatment, you use measures that improve the functioning of the entire lymphatic system . Such measures include:

• bed rest or restriction of physical activity;
• eliminating hypothermia and overheating, especially in the neck and head area;
• compliance with the drinking regime (you need to drink a lot of warm liquid);

• exclusion of sweet, spicy and salty foods from the diet;
• use of traditional medicine: infusions, decoctions, tinctures, juices and lotions.

To treat inflammation of the lymph nodes under the jaw and restore the lymphatic system, the following folk remedies are used internally:

• Echinacea . Mix pharmaceutical tincture (10-15 drops) with water (50 ml) and take orally.

• Echinacea tea . Dried echinacea herb can be brewed as tea. To prepare tea, take 1/2 teaspoon of crushed raw materials and pour hot water (200-250 ml cup). Wrap the tea and let it brew for half an hour. Drink this tea in the morning.
• Echinacea root syrup . Pour crushed echinacea root (4 tablespoons) with water (400 ml) and cook over low heat for 20-25 minutes, after a while add mint (50 grams) to the pan and cook for another 5 minutes. Add honey (50 grams) to the cooled, strained broth and stir. Take 20 grams of the resulting syrup daily.

• Licorice root decoction. Pour crushed licorice root (30 grams) with hot water (200 ml) and simmer in a water bath for a quarter of an hour. Remove the broth from the heat and let cool completely. Filter and squeeze the raw material through a bandage. Bring the broth to its original volume by adding boiled water. Drink 1/3 of a cup 30 minutes before main meals.
• Infusion of knotweed herb . Pour dried knotweed herb (1 tablespoon) with hot water (300 ml) and leave for 20 minutes. Take the entire portion of the resulting filtered infusion three times a day, half an hour before main meals. The time for taking knotweed herb infusion is a week, and then you need to switch to taking horsetail herb infusion, prepared in the same proportions as in the previous recipe with knotweed herb. The course of using horsetail infusion is also a week according to the same dosage regimen. The general treatment regimen with weekly alternation of herbal infusions is 2 months.

• Herbal decoction . Mix yarrow and oregano herbs, nettle leaves and hop cones (take all ingredients in a tablespoon), add horsetail herb (3 tablespoons) and mix the collection. Separate a tablespoon of the mixture, fill it with water (300 ml) and leave the product to simmer in a water bath for 15 minutes. Take the cooled, strained broth, 10 ml three times a day, 30 minutes before main meals. A decoction of yarrow herb is used to increase heart rate at home.

To relieve inflammation of the lymph nodes under the jaw, the following traditional medicines are used externally:

• Dandelion juice. Grind fresh dandelion grass into a pulp and squeeze the juice out of it. Soak a piece of bandage with the resulting juice and apply it to the inflamed site for 2 hours, securing it with a bandage or plaster. Use dandelion juice twice a day for 3-5 days in a row.

• Fresh mint leaves . Wrap mint leaves in cheesecloth and crush to release juice. Apply the product to the affected area for 2 hours, securing with a bandage. Carry out the procedure 2 times a day, each time preparing a new bandage. Peppermint tea is used to treat loose stools in adults.
• Chicory roots . Pour boiling water over crushed chicory roots (the amount should be enough to cover the surface of the lesion) until they are just covered with water, and let stand for 20-30 minutes. Crush the steamed roots, drain the liquid, and wrap in gauze or bandage. Apply the product to the affected lymph node, cover the top with film and secure with a bandage. Keep the compress for 2 hours. Carry out the procedure twice a day.

• Walnut leaves . Grind fresh or dried walnut leaves and steep them in boiling water until just covered. Let the product sit for 20 minutes. Soak the bandage with the resulting infusion and wrap the steamed leaves in it. Apply the product as a compress for 2 hours twice a day.
• Aloe juice ointment. Squeeze the juice from a three-year-old aloe leaf (a tablespoon) and mix it with goose fat (30 grams). Apply the resulting ointment to the site of inflammation 2-3 times a day.

• Vinegar 9% . Dilute 9% table vinegar in half with water and apply the product to the inflamed area for 1 hour, 2-3 times a day.
• Celandine juice infused with alcohol . Grind fresh celandine grass into a pulp and squeeze out the juice. Mix the resulting juice (1 tablespoon) with alcohol (100 ml) and leave in a warm place overnight. Moisten a bandage or cloth in the resulting tincture and apply to the affected area until completely dry.
• Saline dressing . Dissolve salt (2 teaspoons) in slightly hot water (a glass). Moisten the bandage in the resulting solution and apply to the affected area until completely dry twice a day. Saline solution is also used to rinse the nose to treat runny nose in children.

Prevention of inflammation of the lymph nodes

To avoid inflammation of the lymph nodes under the jaw, you must:

• strengthen the immune system (eat right, lead a healthy lifestyle and exercise);
• monitor oral and ear hygiene;
• correctly treat diseases of the throat and nose, colds and acute respiratory viral infections;
• be sure to visit the dentist 2 times a year for preventive examinations;

• avoid sudden hypothermia and overheating of the body;
• immediately treat damaged skin in the area of ​​the face and neck with antiseptic agents.

If a disease is detected, you must immediately seek advice from a specialist in order to prevent an acute purulent form of inflammation, and begin treatment using the given traditional medicine as an auxiliary therapy.

Tumors of various types

If the lymph node under the jaw hurts, then we can talk about a neoplasm. However, it can be malignant or benign. Prolonged inflammation of a certain area should always be alarming. When a tumor or cyst forms, conservative treatment most often does not help. The lymph node does not shrink, but remains inflamed for quite a long time.

Most often, irreversible tumor processes are simply removed from the human body. This happens within the walls of a medical institution using anesthetics. In cases of cancer, the affected lymph nodes can also be excised, since there is a possibility that cancer cells have spread to them.