Behind the ears, can cause illness in others. internal organs located in the neck and head. It may be the result of ordinary hypothermia, chronic tonsillitis, inflammation of the external, middle or inner ear, as well as inflammatory processes in the throat - tonsillitis, pharyngitis or laryngitis. Sometimes the posterior ear lymph nodes increase during an exacerbation, it happens that the cause of this is herpes or inflammation of the maxillary sinuses - sinusitis. Allergies, dental problems, and oral diseases can also be associated with lymphadenopathy.

except painful sensations in the lymph nodes, inflammation is accompanied by their increase and, in the acute course of the disease, an increase in temperature and redness of the skin around or above the lymph node. As a rule, acute proceeds with a simultaneous deterioration in general well-being, including headache, weakness throughout the body, drowsiness and loss of strength.

In general cases, inflammatory processes in the lymph nodes clearly indicate a decrease in the level of immunity.

First aid for inflammation of the lymph nodes behind the ears

In this case, heat is very useful, therefore it is necessary to warm up the inflamed one, using a bag with heated iodized salt or a warm bandage with a woolen scarf or scarf. Boil fresh or dry leaves of celandine with boiling water and, when they cool slightly, place them on the inflamed lymph node and the area of ​​the skin around it. An adult and a child can apply celandine leaves as a compress, covering them with plastic wrap on top and making a bandage from a woolen scarf.

If the lymph node does not hurt, but it becomes hard to the touch, or if you see ulceration of the skin over the node and purulent discharge from it, see your doctor immediately.

Take care of increasing your immunity and take care of your own health, avoiding colds and hypothermia. Include foods rich in natural vitamins in your diet. With their lack, it will be useful to take synthetic vitamin complexes... V acute form diseases, when symptoms similar to poisoning are observed, it is necessary to drink a lot of warm liquid - herbal teas, rosehip infusions, raspberry leaves, echinacea flowers.

Inflammation of the lymph nodes behind the ear is a pathological process that occurs in response to tissue damage or the penetration of a foreign microorganism. The lymph node behind the ear is a part of the lymphatic system that is involved in the body's immune defense against infectious pathogens. Inflammation of the lymph nodes behind the ears can be caused by both cancer and infectious diseases. With a sharp increase in lymph nodes, you must apply for medical help... In the article we will analyze why the lymph nodes behind the ears become inflamed.

Inflammation of the lymph nodes behind the ear is a manifestation inflammatory process in the ears

V human body contains about 700 lymph nodes: the size of each varies from 2 mm to 2 cm. Lymph nodes are found in groups, individually or along the lymphatic vessels. Lymph flows through the vessels to the lymph nodes.

Anatomy and physiology

Lymph nodes are small bean-like structures, hundreds of which are located along the lymphatic vessels; the parotid lymph nodes are located along the ear vein. The lymph nodes contain a fibrous network in which lymphocytes and macrophages filter out foreign microorganisms and wastes. They also play an important role in the body's defense. White blood cells (lymphocytes) form in the lymph nodes.

Normal and abnormal sizes

V healthy condition the lymph nodes behind the ear are poorly felt, have a soft consistency and easily move under mechanical pressure. If the lymph nodes are difficult to move, it is recommended to consult a specialist.

An increase in the lymph nodes behind the ear by more than 2 cm may indicate both acute and chronic inflammation. The inflammatory process inside the nodes usually leads to an increase in their size. There are 2 forms of inflammation of the lymph nodes under or near the ear - acute nonspecific and chronic nonspecific lymphadenitis. V international classification diseases of the 10th revision (ICD-10), acute is indicated by the code L04.0, and chronic - I88.1.

After suffering severe diseases, fibrotic changes may occur in the lymph nodes.

If the lymph node is inflamed on only one side, it may be a sign of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The malignant lymph node, as a rule, does not hurt, has a hard consistency and does not move well. Pain in malignant neoplasms appears in the later stages of development, when irreversible processes occur.

Reason for visiting a doctor

If the lymph node is inflamed and the temperature rises, you need to visit a doctor

A sharp inflammation of the lymph nodes near or under the ear, with a rise in body temperature, chills or weakness is a reason to seek the advice of your doctor.

Swollen lymph nodes: the main causes

Swollen lymph nodes behind the ear can have many different causes.

If suddenly there is pain or inflammation in the lymph nodes, it is most likely an inflammatory and benign process. If the pressure-sensitive lymph node moves well and has a soft consistency, this is more likely to indicate a benign neoplasm.

If painful swelling of the lymph nodes occurs without signs of inflammation or injury, you should see your doctor. An enlarged and swollen lymph node under the ear can be a sign of cancer. If it hurts only on one side (right or left), this may also indicate a malignant disease.

A blood test will help identify an inflammatory process in the body.

First, the doctor physically examines the patient and takes a history. When examining the lymph nodes of the area of ​​inflammation (under, above, or behind the ear), attention should be paid to redness and possible fistula formation. During a physical exam, the doctor uses his fingers to assess the properties of the lymph nodes. The doctor evaluates the size, mobility, consistency, and soreness of the lymph node.

After a physical examination, a blood test is prescribed, which helps to identify signs of inflammation: an increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and the concentration of C-reactive protein.

Then an ultrasound examination of the enlarged lymph nodes is prescribed.

Additional studies to help confirm the diagnosis:

• radiography;
• scintigraphy;
• Magnetic resonance imaging;
• CT scan.

To confirm the diagnosis, the tissue of enlarged lymph nodes is surgically removed, which is sent for histological examination to a pathologist.

What to do if the lymph node behind the ear is inflamed?

Treatment depends on the cause of the swollen lymph nodes. In some cases - indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphomas - treatment is not required for an asymptomatic period of time.

If the cause of swollen lymph nodes is a cold, symptomatic treatment is prescribed - antipyretics, pain relievers and decongestants. The attending physician will help to cure the inflamed lymph nodes.

Slightly enlarged behind-the-ear lymph nodes caused by colds do not require treatment.

If a malignant disease - Hodgkin's disease - is the cause of swollen lymph nodes, chemoradiation therapy is prescribed.

Advice! If the lymph node under the earlobe hurts badly, it is recommended to visit a therapist, ENT doctor or. How to treat the inflamed lymph nodes behind the ears, the doctor will determine. The treatment regimen depends on the location of the lymph nodes and the reason for their enlargement.

Swollen lymph nodes behind the ear - defensive reaction organism, which occurs in response to oncological and infectious processes in the body, namely in the ear, oral cavity and nasopharynx. not only increase, but also become painful. The skin becomes hyperemic and pronounced swelling appears. In this case, we can talk about behind-the-ear lymphadenitis or a local form of lymphadenopathy.

Features of the lymphatic system

The human body is designed to circulate lymph (extracellular fluid). The protective function is due to the production of antibodies and lymphocytes. Normally, the nodes are no more than 0.5-5.0 cm in size. They are washed by the intercellular fluid, which comes from the internal organs and structures located nearby.

Behind-the-ear lymph nodes along temporal bone, in the area of ​​the ear vein. In the absence of pathological processes in the body, they are not palpable and are not visually determined. A human has 4 protective capsules in this area. If there is an increase in their size, then we are talking about an inflammatory process in regional organs or tissues. The parotid lymph nodes, including the preauricular lymph node, clear the intercellular fluid from the temporal and parietal regions of the head. They have a direct connection with the structures of the neck and the salivary glands.

The scheme of the lymph glands in the area of ​​the ears: 1) preauricular; 2) behind the ear; 3) parotid

Lymphatic structures are a kind of filter that is designed to be destroyed and excreted from the body foreign bodies and microorganisms. If there is a circulation of foreign agents in the blood, then an active production of lymphocytes occurs in the area of ​​the nodes. This leads to the fact that they are in size and become quite painful.

It can occur at any age. Please note that only in children preschool age there is a predisposition to lymphadenitis. This is due to the fact that their immune system is immature. The inner capsules are practically not compacted and have no partitions, which leads to the fact that even a small number of pathogenic or foreign microorganisms or structures leads to their increase.

The reasons for the increase

If the lymph node behind the ear is enlarged, then we are talking about the presence of any pathological disorders. In this case, the first step is to establish the cause of the changes occurring in the body and eliminate it. Only after this should the symptomatology be taken. Otherwise, it will be possible to get rid of the manifestations only for a short time.

Why are the lymph nodes behind the ears enlarged? We are talking about the course of acute or latent pathological processes in the ear, crown, occiput, mastoid process or salivary glands. With the flow of lymph in the area of ​​the capsules, toxins and microorganisms penetrate, which are the causative agents of various diseases.

With an increase in lymph nodes behind the ear, the causes may be associated with the following factors:

• Decrease in the protective functions of the body.
• Pathologies of the hearing organs, for example, furuncle, otitis media, eustachitis, etc.
• Inflammation in the nasopharynx (rhinitis, sinusitis, rhinopharyngitis).
• Oral cavity and throat infections - stomatitis, caries, pharyngitis, diseases of the salivary glands.
• SARS and colds, in which there is a severe runny nose.
• Specific infectious diseases - rubella, toxoplasmosis, mumps, etc.

Please note that the enlargement of the preauricular lymph nodes under the ear can also occur with neurological abnormalities, in which the blood supply to the brain area increases. Lymphadenopathy can develop against the background of a fungal infection, allergic reaction and a malignant process in the neck or head.

Lymphatic structures enlarge most often in people suffering from autoimmune disorders such as HIV and AIDS. More susceptible to the development of lymphadenitis and lymphadenopathy are those people who have a genetic predisposition, and also suffer from systemic endocrine disorders in the form rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus.

The diagnosis is much easier for adults than for children. This is due to the fact that patients may have enlarged nodes in the ear area, even against the background of such minor factors as the common cold. In this case, the symptoms go away on their own within 1-2 weeks and do not require additional medical correction.

Disease classification

The enlargement of the ear lymph node can occur in different ways. Experts identify the following types of pathological process:

• Catarrhal. In this case, there are no suppurations, severe pain appears, and external changes on the part of the skin are not observed.
• Purulent. It is accompanied by an increase in body temperature, sharp painful sensations, symptoms of body intoxication, hyperemia and edema. The lymph node in this case greatly increases in size.
• Hemorrhagic. The cavity of the node is saturated with blood contents, which is associated with capillary dysfunction. This form of the disease is characteristic mainly for such serious cases as anthrax and plague.

A chronic inflammatory process occurs only when lymphadenopathy lasts for 1-2 months and the patient does not receive necessary treatment... If the contents of the lymph node enters soft tissue, which are located next to it, then we are talking about adenophlegmon. In this case, it is impossible to determine the clear boundaries of the infiltration. The lymph node quickly reaches enormous size, and general manifestations of intoxication of the body appear.

Clinical manifestations

Lymphadenitis is an inflammatory reaction that develops against the background of destruction of the lymph nodes. If a similar reaction occurs behind the ear, then the following symptoms occur:

• Puffiness. Behind the ears, the skin is thin and taut, as it contains hard structures such as the bones of the skull and tendons. Edema is limited from almost all sides, so the capsule itself stretches and increases in size quite strongly.
• Hyperemia. In the area of ​​the inflammatory process, expansion occurs blood vessels, which is fraught with stagnation arterial blood... Outwardly, this process is expressed by reddening of the skin.
• Local temperature rise. Excessive blood flow caused by active cellular processes leads to the fact that a feeling of heat appears in the area of ​​inflammation.
• Pain syndrome. When the nerve endings are squeezed in the area of ​​the tendons and skin, pain appears. In this case, there is an active release of biologically active substances secreted by decaying cellular structures. In this case, the pain is bursting and pulsating. After the acute period has passed, the pain syndrome is clearly visible only during palpation.

Due to dysfunction of the parotid lymph nodes, lymph is retained in the soft tissues of the head. Outwardly, this manifests itself in the form of edema and puffiness.

Establishing diagnosis

In order to cure behind-the-ear lymphadenitis, you first need to establish the reasons for its development. To obtain extended information about the state of the patient's body, the doctor prescribes complex diagnostics... In rare cases, in order to understand what the reasons are, it is enough to conduct an external examination of the patient. Without fail, a specialist palpates enlarged lymph nodes and examines the tonsils, thyroid gland and lacrimal glands.

If we consider the uncomplicated forms of the disease, then the lymphatic structures after a while are restored on their own. If after antibacterial treatment there are no improvements, but on the contrary complications have appeared, then there is a need for the following studies:

• Complete blood count - leukocyte count and ESR indicator.
• CT scan.
• Ultrasound procedure.
• Radiography.
• Biopsy.

Comprehensive diagnostics allows you to determine the type, stage of progression of the disease and the presence malignant tumors in organism. Only after receiving the results of the research carried out is assigned drug treatment... If the lymph node enlargement occurs very quickly or medications do not give the expected result, then a surgical operation is performed.

Drug therapy

On the one hand, this is a consequence infectious diseases... To begin with, the doctor takes measures to eliminate the underlying cause of lymphadenitis or lymphadenopathy. For this purpose, antibiotic therapy, which is carried out through drugs wide range actions: sulfonamides or cephalosporins.

As additional agents that relieve symptoms and normalize the immune response, the following are prescribed:

• Antihistamines. Designed to relieve the inflammatory response and eliminate chronic inflammation. The drugs reduce edema, relieve pain syndrome, and reduce the severity of hyperemia.
• Vitamin complexes. Needed to restore the body's protective functions. It is imperative to normalize the level of vitamin C.
• Immunomodulators. Means, the effectiveness of which is aimed at normalizing the body's immune response. It can be used only after a doctor's prescription.

After the causes are eliminated or during the main treatment, physiotherapy is carried out in order to eliminate the symptoms of the disease and eliminate the likelihood of complications. Among the most effective procedures are electrophoresis and helium-neon laser irradiation.

Surgery

If the lymph nodes in the area of ​​the ears are enlarged and a purulent process develops, then you cannot do without surgical intervention. During surgical treatment the capsule is opened and pus is removed from the damaged tissues. Next, rinsing with antiseptic solutions is carried out and, if necessary, a drainage system is installed for the outflow of the internal fluid. In difficult cases, surgical removal of the affected lymph nodes is carried out.

Behind-the-ear lymph nodes - lymph nodes that are located in the back of the ear (behind the lobe, shell). Their soreness often indicates pathological processes. The reaction of formations to a meeting with microorganisms is a physiological phenomenon that allows the immune system work more efficiently.

Location and dimensions

Around the auricle (or near it) are the nodal lymphatic formations listed below:

• parotid (under the lobe);
• posterior (behind the sink);
• preauricular anterior (before the tragus).

During the examination of the lymph nodes behind the ear, their soreness, consistency, adhesion to each other and adjacent tissues, as well as size are assessed. As a rule, the normal diameter of the formations is no more than 1 cm.

The proliferation of tissue formations, accompanied by an increase in their size, is called "lymphadenopathy". This is an intermediate diagnosis, which is clarified after identifying the cause of the inflammatory process. With localized lymphadenopathy, anatomical areas are analyzed through which lymph flows, filtered by enlarged glands. At the same time, generalized inflammation of the links of the immune system is excluded.

Causes of a violation of the behind-the-ear lymph nodes

Most often, the glands grow larger in response to inflammation caused by an infection and occurring in the area where they filter lymph.

The most common causes of behind-the-ear nonspecific lymphadenitis are:

If the disruption of the work of the lymph nodes behind the ear proceeds without suppuration, it is not accompanied pain syndrome and arises as a result of one of the diseases listed above, and after treatment the state of the glands is normalized, then local lymphadenopathy is diagnosed, which is the body's response to the invasion of infection.

A specific violation of the links of immunity behind the ear occurs as a result of the following diseases and conditions:

1. Infection with HIV infection, while the enlargement of the glands is sometimes the only symptom of the pathology and is observed for a long time. In addition, the sizes of other groups of immune units change.
2. Lipid metabolism disorders of a hereditary nature (for example, Niemann-Pick disease).
3. Autoimmune disorders, in particular, systemic lupus erythematosus.
4. Oncological pathologies (Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, metastases of other cancers).

The list of diseases and conditions that provoke pain, visual enlargement of the nodules behind the ear is quite extensive. Only the most common causes of deviations from the norm are given. Only a doctor can establish the cause of the inflammation of the glands.

When you need to urgently see a specialist

It is recommended to consult a doctor as soon as possible if:

1. The size of the lymph nodes behind the ear is 1.5 cm or more, they have a dense consistency, while neighboring tissues are involved in the process, which leads to the appearance of almost immobile packets of formations. In the absence of adequate and timely treatment often a purulent process develops, accompanied by reddening of the skin, and then - a breakthrough of the gland with the release of its contents outside and the formation of a fistula. Such clinical picture is inherent in tuberculosis.
2. The lymph nodes have acquired a dense consistency, do not hurt when pressed, do not merge with nearby tissues, but in advanced cases they form into conglomerates. The manifestations described sometimes indicate non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
3. Painful, enlarged glands, gradually transform into buboes up to 5 cm in diameter. This phenomenon is inherent in the bubonic form of tularemia.

If the visual change in the size of the lymph nodes behind the ear is not accompanied by signs of an infectious process, then you need to consult a doctor to identify the cause of the deviations from the norm.