Additionally, they are a possible side effect of certain medications and vaccines.
Characterized by one or more painful swellings, swollen inguinal lymph nodes are easy to diagnose; their identification, in fact, requires a simple palpatory examination of the inguinal region.
The treatment adopted in the presence of enlarged inguinal lymph nodes depends on the triggering cause; for this reason, during the diagnostic phase, it is essential that the doctor conduct an "investigation into the causal factors.
Brief review of what lymph nodes are
The lymph nodes are small ovoid organs of the lymphatic system, having a very important immune role; in fact, they act as collection points for part of the B and T lymphocytes (cells of the immune system), in order to intercept and destroy any germs, foreign substances and / or neoplastic cells circulating in the lymph (the lymph is the fluid similar to the plasma, which flows along the lymphatic vessels and receives waste substances present in the tissues).
Acting in a similar way to purifiers, lymph nodes are often referred to as biological filters.
Anatomy of the inguinal lymph nodes
The inguinal lymph nodes are the lymph nodes of the thigh located in the anatomical region called the groin.
Located under the so-called inguinal ligament, the lymph nodes can be classified into two groups: the superficial inguinal lymph node group and the deep inguinal lymph node group.
The superficial inguinal lymph nodes are located just under the skin, there are about ten and have the task of receiving and discharging the lymph coming from the genitals, lower abdomen, lower back, anus, perineum, buttocks, thighs and legs.
The deep inguinal lymph nodes, on the other hand, reside far below the skin (in a structure known as the femoral triangle), they can vary in number between 3 and 5 units and, in addition to receiving lymph from the superficial inguinal lymph nodes, they have l " task of hosting the lymph coming from: the lower parts of the lower limbs, the clitoris (in women) and the penis (in men).
The final step of the lymphatic drainage involving the inguinal lymph nodes sees the discharge of the lymph that has reached the deep inguinal lymph nodes in the external iliac lymph nodes.
of certain pharmacological products.
Infections and swollen inguinal lymph nodes
Among the infections responsible for the phenomenon of enlarged inguinal lymph nodes, there are:
- Sexually transmitted diseases. Some well-known examples of such medical conditions are gonorrhea, syphilis, venereal lymphogranuloma, chancroid (or venereal ulcer), and genital herpes.
- Some viral infections, such as mononucleosis, viral orchitis or AIDS.
- Bacterial infections affecting the skin and subcutaneous tissues, including muscles and bones.
- Toxoplasmosis. It is a parasitic disease (parasitosis), caused by the Toxoplasma gondii parasite.
It can be asymptomatic (ie without symptoms) or symptomatic (ie associated with a symptomatology); when it is symptomatic, in addition to swollen inguinal lymph nodes, it causes: headache, fever, myalgia, fatigue and sore throat. - The bubonic plague. Backed by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, is a "bacterial infection that has the lymphatic system as its favorite target in the human being."
Example of zoonosis (ie infection transmitted by animals), the bubonic plague is responsible for lymphadenopathy in several parts of the body; in fact, in addition to swollen inguinal lymph nodes, it is also associated with swollen neck lymph nodes and swollen axillary lymph nodes.
Tumors and enlarged inguinal lymph nodes
In the "list of tumors related to the presence of enlarged inguinal lymph nodes, there are:
- Leukemia. They are malignant blood cancers that affect the progenitor cells of white blood cells. Elements of the so-called cellular component of the blood, white blood cells are an integral part of the immune system, therefore they have the task of defending the organism from threats coming from the outside and from the inside.
- Lymphomas. They are malignant tumors that specifically affect the lymph nodes.
There are two types of lymphoma: Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
The presence of a lymphoma is often associated not only with swollen inguinal lymph nodes, but also with swollen axillary and neck lymph nodes. - Tumors of the pelvic organs and possible consequent metastases. Examples of pelvic tumors, from which the phenomenon of enlarged inguinal lymph nodes can arise, are cancer of the anus and cancer of the vulva.
Normally, the enlargement of a group of lymph nodes, observed in the presence of a malignant tumor, represents the signal that the malignant tumor in question has spread elsewhere, compared to its site of origin. - Melanomas. A melanoma is a malignant skin tumor that can cause swollen lymph nodes in its vicinity.
Autoimmune diseases and enlarged inguinal lymph nodes
Among the best known autoimmune diseases associated with the phenomenon of enlarged inguinal lymph nodes, there are: rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a form of arthritis (inflammation of the joints), which involves the degeneration of the joint capsule belonging to the movable joints (or diarthrosis).
Systemic lupus erythematosus, on the other hand, is a multisystem inflammatory disease, that is, a disease that causes inflammation in various organs and tissues of the human body (the term "multisystem" refers precisely to the multiplicity of organs and tissues involved).
Important: rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus are characterized by the presence of enlarged inguinal lymph nodes, when they are in their most advanced stages.
In other words, swollen inguinal lymph nodes distinguish rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, only when these two conditions are well established and have been in place for some time.
Drugs and swollen inguinal lymph nodes
Among the drugs that, in the list of side effects, also include the phenomenon of enlarged inguinal lymph nodes, there are:
- L "allopurinol, a medicine specifically indicated for the treatment of gout;
- The drugs for epilepsy known as phenytoin and carbamazepine (N.B: carbamazepine is also used in the treatment of dipolar disorder);
- Penicillin drugs, indicated for the treatment of some bacterial infections;
- Pyrimethamine, a drug indicated for the treatment of malaria;
- Sulfonamides.
Vaccines and swollen inguinal lymph nodes
Vaccines that have swollen inguinal lymph nodes among the side effects are the trivalent vaccine (against measles, mumps and rubella) and the anti-typhoid vaccine.
Other causes of swollen inguinal lymph nodes:
- Allergic reactions
- Sebaceous cysts in the groin area
- Inguinal hernia
- Presence of a lipoma
Did you know that ...
Bubonic plague owes its name to the fact that the inguinal and axillary lymph nodes swell to the point of resembling buboes.
Acute or gradual enlargement: what does it depend on?
Enlarged inguinal lymph nodes can result from an "acute enlargement process - where acute s" means quick to occur - or from a gradual enlargement process.
As a rule, the enlargement of the inguinal lymph nodes is acute when the underlying cause is an infection, while it is gradual when the responsible factor is a tumor or an autoimmune disease.
Associated symptoms
Depending on the condition triggering lymph node enlargement, the presence of enlarged inguinal lymph nodes may be accompanied by more than a few symptoms as well as other signs.
More specifically, the symptoms and signs that can complete the presence of inguinal lymphadenopathy include:
- Fever;
- Unexplained weight loss
- Headache;
- Myalgia;
- Generalized fatigue;
- Sore throat;
- Genital injuries and ulcers;
- Axillary lymphadenopathy (swollen axillary lymph nodes) and neck lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes on the neck).
- Profuse sweating, especially at night.
Complications
In the presence of enlarged inguinal lymph nodes, the possible occurrence of complications depends on the severity of the underlying cause of the enlarged lymph node and the remaining symptoms.
Examples of conditions that induce inguinal lymphadenopathy and which, given their severity, can cause complications are: leukemia, lymphoma, AIDS and more serious infections.
When to see a doctor?
Enlarged inguinal lymph nodes are a sign not to be underestimated, but rather to be referred to the attention of the attending physician, when:
- They appeared without obvious explanation and, after 2 weeks, they have not yet returned to their normal size;
- They are accompanied by the enlargement of other lymph nodes (eg axillary lymph nodes, inguinal lymph nodes, etc.);
- They are accompanied by a varied and / or severe symptomatology (eg: fever, genital lesions and ulcers, weight loss for no reason, chronic fatigue, etc.).
- Blood test (complete blood count, ESR, C reactive protein, etc.);
- Inguinal ultrasound;
- Percutaneous needle biopsy involving an enlarged lymph node.
