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February 9, 2012
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Swollen Lymph Glands (cont.)

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Swollen Lymph Nodes Causes

Several mechanisms can cause the lymph nodes to enlarge (swell).

  • Infection: This can increase the number of white blood cells, which multiply in response to stimulation with a foreign substance (antigen)
  • Virus: Immune reaction to a generalized infection in the body such as viral infections that can occur with the common cold as well as more serious infections such as HIV
  • Inflammation: Infiltration with inflammatory cells during infection or inflammation in a region of a given lymph node
  • Cancer: Infiltration with malignant cells (metastases) brought to the node with the lymph flowing from an area of certain types of cancer
  • Cancer of the Blood: Uncontrolled, malignant multiplication of lymphocytes as in lymphoma or leukemia

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Swollen Lymph Nodes - Treatments

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