Lymphatic System and Immune System

By: Maria R. Garcia

Lymphadenitis

• Infection of the lymph nodes• Condition in lymph nodes that help your body fight off

illness become inflamed.• The inflammation is a response to bacteria, viruses or

fungi.• The swollen glands are usually found near the site

where the underlying infection, tumor or inflammation.

• Can be cause by rare infections such as tuberculosis or a simple cat scratch (Bartonella).

Symptoms of Lymphadentis

• Swollen and tender area• Hard lymph nodes• Red tender skin over

lymph node• Inflammation over

infected area

Test and Treatment

• Biopsy of affected area or node• Lymphadenitis may spread within hours and

should be treated promptly• Types of treatment include: antibiotics, pain

killers, anti-inflammatory medication and cool compresses

Hodgkin’s Disease• Named after Thomas Hodgkin –

British physician• Hodgkin’s Disease is a cancer of

the lymphatic system• Cells begin to grow abnormally,

spread beyond the lymphatic system and compromises you body’s ability to fight infection.

• One of the two common types of cancers. The other type being non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which is far more common.

• Cause of Hodgkin’s Disease is still unknown

Symptoms: Hodgkin’s Disease• Painless swelling of lymph nodes in your neck, armpits or

groin • Persistent fatigue • Fever and chills • Night sweats • Unexplained weight loss• Coughing, trouble breathing or chest pain• Loss of appetite • Itching • Pain in your lymph nodes after drinking alcohol

Complications: Hodgkin’s Disease

• Cardiovascular disease• Second malignancy, such as leukemia, non-

Hodgkin's lymphoma and tumors in the lungs, breasts or gastrointestinal system

• Vascular disease, including stroke• Thyroid dysfunction• Sterility

Tests & Diagnosis: Hodgkin’s Disease

• Biopsy: tissue sample• Physical exam: doctor

checks for swollen lymph nodes

• X-rays: reveal swollen lymph nodes

• CT scan• MRI• PET scan• Blood tests

Treatment Options: Hodgkin’s Disease

• The most important factor is to diagnose the stage of the disease and how many lymph nodes are affected.

• Chemotherapy• Radiation• Bone marrow or stem

cell transplant

non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

• Our lymphatic system is a disease fighting network spread throughout our body.

• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a cancer that originates in your lymphatic system.

• Occurs when our body produces too many lymphocytes – a type of white blood cell.

• Tumors develop from lymphocytes.• The most common non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is diffuse

large B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma.

non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

• Our lymphocytes go through a life cycle, old lymphocytes die and our body creates new ones to replace them. In non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, your lymphocytes don’t die, they continue to grow and divide and begin to overcrowd your lymph nodes and cause them to swell.

• There are two type of lymphocytes: they are B cells and T cells

Symptoms: non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

• Swollen lymph nodes in your neck, armpit or groin

• Abdominal pain or swelling• Chest pain, coughing or trouble breathing• Fever• Fatigue• Night sweats• Rapid weight loss

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

• AIDS is chronic and potential life threatening condition which is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV is known to damage your immune system, HIV interferes with your body's ability to fight the organisms that cause disease.

• It is a sexually transmitted disease that can also be spread by contact with infected blood, or from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth or breast-feeding. It can take years before HIV weakens your immune system to the point that you have AIDS.

• There is currently no cure for HIV/AIDS but there are medications that can slow the progression.

Symptoms of AIDS• When one is first infected it could

take years for signs to appear. You may feel symptom free for years and not know you have AIDS But, you can still spread the virus to others.

• Many people start out with flu like symptoms and other symptoms include: fever, headache, sore throat, swollen lymph glands, diarrhea, weight loss, cough, shortness of breath and a rash.

Progression of AIDS• The disease progresses from HIV to AIDS in 10 years.• HIV becomes AIDS by destroying CD4 cells, which is a

specific type of white blood cell that plays a large role in helping your body fight disease. Your immune system weakens as more CD4 cells are killed. You can have an HIV infection for years before it progresses to AIDS.

• When one develops AIDS, ones immune system is severely damaged making one susceptible to infections such as: night sweats, chronic diarrhea, headaches, fatigue, skin rashes or bumps, blurred vision and lesions on body.

Sarcoidosis• Is a disease that forms lesions of clumps of inflammatory

cells in your body, such as the lungs, lymph nodes, spleen, eyes, skin and small bones of hands and feet.

• Doctor’s believe that Sarcoidosis results from abnormal immune system, possibly from inhaling something in the air. It often goes away on its own but may last a lifetime for others.

• Sometimes develops gradually and produces signs that can last for years.

• Symptoms may include: fatigue, fever, swollen lymph nodes and weight loss

What causes Sarcoidosis?

• Normally one’s immune system helps protect against foreign invaders, such as bacteria and viruses. But, Sarcoidosis cells clump together to form lumps called granulomas, which build up in the organ and thus the organ worsens.

• It is still unclear to doctor’s what causes Sarcoidosis . Doctor’s believe that some people have a genetic predisposition for developing the disease. Researchers are still trying to test the gene that is associated with this disease.

Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Syndrome

• Became widely known in the 1970’s and 80’s and also called the “Bubble Boy disease” after David Vetter who lived in a sterile enviroment and because its victims are prone to infectious disease.

• Immune deficiency seen in children born with nonfunctioning immune system.

• It is a severe defect in both the T&B lymphocyte system. • A child will usually have serious infections within the first

few months of life and may even be life threatening. They may include pneumonia, meningitis or bloodstream infections.

Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Syndrome

• Chronic diarrhea ,ear infections, recurrent pneumonia, and profuse oral candidiasis commonly occur. If babies are untreated they will usually die within 1 year due to severe, recurrent infections unless they have undergone successful Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

• SCIDS occurs in 1 in 100,000 births.• SCIDS babys look normal and it is normally diagnosed until

about 6 months of age, usually when the child has recurrent infections.

• Currently the treatment for SCID is a bone marrow transplant