What is the most serious consequence of lymph node suppuration in children?

Clinically, there are many types of diseases that infants and young children suffer from, and some of them are quite serious, which requires mothers and doctors to work together to help babies solve practical difficulties. For example, some babies develop lymph node suppuration after birth, which is a relatively serious disease in medicine. So, what are the consequences of lymph node suppuration in children?

Disease Overview

The face and neck have rich lymphatic circulation, consisting of two groups of lymph nodes, the circular chain and the vertical chain, and a large number of reticular lymphatic vessels. Lymph nodes are an important defense system of the face and neck. When the bacteria are highly toxic and the body's resistance is low, it can cause lymphadenitis. The lymph nodes of infants and young children are not fully developed, the lymph follicles are not fully formed, there is less connective tissue, the lymph node capsule is thin, and their defensive function is poorer than that of adults. When purulent inflammation occurs in the lymph nodes, it is very easy to break through the capsule and develop into cellulitis. The infection can also enter the blood circulation and cause toxemia or sepsis.

Disease classification

Dentistry, Pediatrics

Symptoms and signs

The disease develops rapidly in children. In the early stage, the lymph nodes become congested, edematous, and hardened. Active and swollen lymph nodes can be felt, and there is tenderness. At this time, the systemic reaction is mild and easy to be ignored. When the infection enters the purulent stage from the serous stage, it may penetrate the lymph node capsule. When the inflammation spreads to the surrounding tissues, the scope expands, the tenderness becomes obvious, and the lymph nodes adhere to the surrounding tissues, so their boundaries cannot be clearly felt. For superficial abscesses, such as submandibular abscess, a sense of fluctuation can be felt. For deep cervical abscesses, it is not easy to feel fluctuation because it is covered by the sternocleidomastoid muscle, but there is obvious tenderness. There are inflammatory infiltrates on the skin of the affected area, and there is pitting edema when pressed. At this time, systemic symptoms are obvious, including high fever, chills, even convulsions, and an increased total white blood cell count.

Causes of Disease

It is mostly caused by upper respiratory tract infection, tonsillitis, measles, scarlet fever, facial skin furuncle, oral mucosal damage and deciduous tooth disease, which lead to inflammation of lymph nodes in the corresponding parts. The most common is submandibular lymphadenitis, followed by deep cervical lymphadenitis.

Pathophysiology

The face and neck have rich lymphatic circulation, which consists of two groups of lymph nodes, the circular chain and the longitudinal chain, and numerous reticular lymphatic vessels. Lymph nodes are an important defense system of the face and neck. They can filter and phagocytize bacteria and foreign matter that enter the lymph fluid, preventing the spread of infection. If the bacteria are highly virulent and the body's resistance is low, it can cause lymphadenitis. The lymph nodes of infants and young children are not fully developed, the lymph follicles are immature, there is less connective tissue, and the lymph node capsule is thin, so their defensive function is poorer than that of adults. When purulent inflammation occurs in the lymph nodes, it is very easy to penetrate the capsule and develop into cellulitis. The infection can also enter the blood circulation and cause toxemia or sepsis.