A Adenitis refers to an inflammatory disease of the glands. Since there are many glands in the human body, it is an umbrella term for different diseases. The reasons for this can vary.
What is adenitis?
Doctors understand the term adenitis to mean inflammation of the glands. The name therefore does not stand for an independent disease, but for a collective term that includes various glandular inflammations.
Glands have various tasks in the body and, among other things, form important secretions or hormones that the organism needs for proper function. Due to the diverse tasks of the different glands, the clinical pictures of adenitis can also vary greatly.
Inflamed glands always indicate the presence of a disease. The causes can be just as diverse as the accompanying symptoms. Since it can also be a more serious illness, glanditis should always be clarified by a medical examination.
causes
The causes of adenitis can be caused by bacteria or viruses or can be based on a build-up of secretion in the glandular area. Some autoimmune or genetic diseases result in inflamed glands.
If, for example, the pancreas is inflamed, this is usually due to a lack of secretion transport, which can develop into potentially life-threatening pancreatitis. One of the viral triggers for adenitis is the childhood disease mumps, which particularly affects the parotid glands. The liver is one of the largest glands in the human body.
If it is inflamed, experts speak of hepatitis. Since the liver in particular makes a significant contribution to the detoxification of the organism, this disease can also be potentially life-threatening if left untreated. The symptoms of adenitis include swelling, tiredness, abdominal pain, general symptoms of intoxication or abscesses.
Symptoms, ailments & signs
Depending on its cause, adenitis can cause various symptoms and symptoms. Liver disease usually leads to fatigue and typical symptoms of poisoning such as fever, sweating and nausea. If a gland in the stomach area is affected (pancreatitis), the adenitis manifests itself as abdominal pain, flatulence and diarrhea.
Constipation can also occur if the condition is not treated. An inflammation of the salivary gland manifests itself as swelling in the face and pain. In bacterial infections, abscesses form that can become inflamed and are usually also associated with severe pain. Thyroid adenitis can cause a variety of symptoms, including hormonal imbalances, skin irritation and serious gastrointestinal problems.
Organ disorders can also occur if the course is severe. Externally, adenitis may show up as paleness and sunken eye sockets. Other signs depend on which gland is affected, including hair loss, acne, and brittle fingernails.
Adenitis can be clearly diagnosed based on the symptoms and symptoms mentioned. The localization of the glandular disorder must be determined on the basis of a detailed discussion with the person concerned and other examination methods. If the disease is detected early, there are usually no further symptoms.
Diagnosis & course
If adenitis is suspected, the attending physician will have a comprehensive discussion with the patient and also take into account their medical history. A precise description of the symptoms is often enough to identify the affected gland.
A blood test will also take place. An ultrasound examination, especially in the abdominal region, can also provide information about whether the liver or pancreas are affected. The course of adenitis depends largely on which gland is inflamed and to what extent. Inflammation of the salivary glands is usually painful, but in many cases goes away within a few days.
Pancreatitis, on the other hand, if left untreated, leads to decomposition of the pancreas by its own digestive secretions and can be fatal. If hepatitis remains undetected and if it progresses, cirrhosis of the liver is also fatal.
When should you go to the doctor?
If you suspect adenitis, you should definitely see your doctor. Warning signs that speak for a medical evaluation are typical general symptoms such as fatigue, mood swings or headaches.
Recurring fever as well as nausea and apathy indicate a serious underlying disease that must be clarified. If these or similar complaints occur again and again that cannot be traced back to another cause, a doctor should be consulted. This is especially true if the symptoms increase rapidly or if the various symptoms accumulate.
If you feel an increasing feeling of weakness, you should also speak to a doctor. In addition to adenitis, other glandular diseases can be the cause, which must also be diagnosed and, if necessary, treated. If there are accompanying skin changes, swellings or abscesses, an immediate doctor's visit is recommended. Anyone who notices tissue changes or a puffy face after waking up should go to the emergency room with the symptoms. An emergency doctor should be alerted in the event of severe complaints.
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Treatment & Therapy
If adenitis was found during the medical examination, the attending physician will initiate appropriate therapy. If it is a bacterial infection, it is usually treated with antibiotics, which causes the inflammation to heal quickly.
Particularly mild forms of adenitis can also heal on their own without any problems, without even requiring medical treatment; a clarification by the doctor is nevertheless advisable. If there is severe pancreatitis, the organ must be spared temporarily; the food is then taken in via a nasogastric tube. Depending on the extent to which the pancreas is damaged, surgery may be necessary. During this, the damaged tissue is removed.
Hepatitis is treated depending on the individual trigger. If there is a viral cause, symptomatic therapy is usually advisable. If there is a risk that the disease could take a chronic course, strong drugs are also used. At an advanced stage, i.e. if the liver is severely damaged, a liver transplant may also be necessary as a life-saving measure.
If the adenitis is due to an autoimmune disease, it is advisable to use immunosuppressive drugs. These reduce the activity of the immune system and thus prevent the body or the affected glands from reacting. In this case, however, it is important to avoid other infections, which can occur more frequently due to the weakened immune system.
Outlook & forecast
Adenitis can cause various complaints and complications. The further course depends heavily on the cause of the inflammation. In most cases, there is severe pain with inflammation of the salivary glands. In the worst case scenario, this can lead to death if the salivary gland is decomposed by the digestive secretions. It can also lead to fatal cirrhosis of the liver. For this reason, the diagnosis and treatment of adenitis should be carried out early and comprehensively so that there are no consequential damages and complications.
In most cases, treatment of adenitis is carried out with the help of antibiotics. This can lead to various side effects. If it is only a mild form of the disease, it usually heals on its own and there are no further symptoms. In severe forms, surgery may be necessary to remove the damaged tissue. If the liver is damaged in a complicated way, a transplant of the organ is necessary for the patient to survive. Depending on the severity of the adenitis, the life expectancy of the patient can be reduced by the disease.
prevention
Preventing adenitis is not possible across the board, as these are different diseases that affect very different glands and body regions. Of course, as always, a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet and sufficient exercise is recommended, as this can prevent the development of numerous diseases.
An inflammation of the liver and the pancreas can best be prevented by a low-fat diet and especially by moderate use of alcohol. In many cases, these illnesses can be traced back to the improper consumption of the stimulant. If symptoms such as swelling of the face, abdominal pain or constant tiredness occur, a doctor should be consulted to prevent the disease from progressing.
Aftercare
Adenitis is the inflammation of a specific gland in the human body. If adenitis is present, there is often an underlying disease that must be treated by an appropriate doctor. Corresponding follow-up care is very important and important if adenitis is present. It is important that the person concerned eliminates the cause of an existing adenitis.
Even in such a case, appropriate follow-up examinations are very important so that a new adenitis can be detected and treated at an early stage. If the sick person does not undergo follow-up examinations, there is a high risk of recurrence. Anyone who attends follow-up examinations immediately after the illness has been overcome will avoid unnecessary complications.
If no appropriate follow-up examinations are carried out, there is a very high probability that complications will occur, which in particularly severe cases could even be life-threatening. Corresponding follow-up care is therefore very important and important for existing adenitis, so that serious complications can be avoided.
You can do that yourself
If adenitis is diagnosed, drug treatment is initiated first. Those affected can support antibiotic therapy through a number of measures.
Physical protection is primarily important. Cool compresses can help with symptoms such as tiredness or abdominal pain. Diseases of the ears or internal organs require medical treatment. Medical treatment is not necessarily required for particularly mild forms of adenitis. Often times, the symptoms go away on their own once the trigger has been resolved. Severe pancreatitis, on the other hand, requires individually tailored therapy. The doctor will first suggest a change in diet or allow the patient to eat through a nasogastric tube.
Depending on how badly the pancreas is damaged, surgery can also be useful. Afterwards, the patient should first take it easy. The body is very weak, especially in the first few days after an operation.
The person affected should initially not do any sport and support recovery through a healthy and balanced diet. Since there is an increased risk of recurrence, regular visits to the doctor are advisable. In the event of unusual complaints, you should speak to the doctor responsible immediately.
