The lymphatic system is a collection of organs and tissues that are made up of lymph, lymph vessels and lymph nodes. The lymph is a fluid that contains white blood cells, the lymph vessels transport the lymph throughout the body and the lymph nodes are the glands that are present throughout the lymph vessels. The lymphatic system is the defense mechanism that attacks the infectious agents such as bacteria and preventing further spread of the disease. Several of the lymphatic system diseases can be dangerous and requires prompt treatment. Some of the disorders of the lymph system include the lymphedema, lymphangitis, lymphadenitis, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and lymphocytosis.
Lymphangitis
This develops as the complication of various infections that affects the lymph vessels. This condition often results from the acute streptococcal infection of the skin which causes the inflammation of the lymph vessels. Some of the symptoms of lymphangitis include fever, chills, loss of appetite, enlarged and tender lymph nodes, headaches, feeling unwell, muscle aches and pain of the affected region. As this condition can progressively become worse within hours, accurate diagnosis is important and treatment initiated soon. Some of the treatments for lymphangitis include antibiotics for the infection, warm compression to ease the pain and reduce inflammation or anti-inflammatory medications to reduce inflammation.
Lymphedema
Lymphedema is the swelling of the limbs that can develop as the result of an inherited condition such as Meige’s disease, late-onset lymphedema and Milroy’s disease. The secondary lymphedema can develop when the lymph nodes or the vessels become damaged. Some of the causes of secondary lymphedema include infection, surgery and radiation treatment for cancer. The blockage affects the normal drainage of the lymph fluid and results in its accumulation causing the swelling. The condition can be mild in some cases or severe making it difficult to use the limb. Some of the associated symptoms that occur in the affected limbs include swelling of the arm or legs, thickening of the skin (fibrosis), restricted range of motion, feeling of tightness, discomfort and recurring infections. There is no cure for this condition and the treatment is focused on reducing the swelling. The treatments include exercises to help lymph fluid drainage and a massage or compression garments to encourage the flow of the fluid out of the limbs. The severe cases require surgery to remove excess tissue to reduce the swelling.
Hodgkin Lymphoma
This is cancer that begins in the white blood cells known as lymphocytes. There are two types of lymphocytes; B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes. As the lymph tissue is located in several parts of the body, it can begin anywhere but commonly occurs in the lymph nodes located in the chest, neck and under the arms. This condition can also spread through the lymph vessel to differed lymph nodes and can later affect other parts of the body. The common symptom of Hodgkin lymphoma is the enlarged lymph node which may be painful and grow over time. Additional symptoms can include night sweats, fever, weight loss, fatigue, itching skin and loss of appetite. The treatment is usually based on the stage of the disease and includes chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiation therapy.
References
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/hodgkin-lymphoma/treating.html
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007296.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lymphedema/basics/treatment/con-20025603