Learn About Lymphangitis
Lymphangitis is an infection of the lymph vessels (channels). It is a complication of some bacterial infections.
Inflamed lymph vessels; Inflammation - lymph vessels; Infected lymph vessels; Infection - lymph vessels
The lymph system is a network of lymph nodes, lymph ducts, lymph vessels, and organs that produce and move a fluid called lymph from tissues to the bloodstream.
Lymphangitis most often results from an acute streptococcal infection of the skin. Less often, it is caused by a staphylococcal infection. The infection causes the lymph vessels to become inflamed.
Lymphangitis may be a sign that a skin or soft tissue infection is getting worse. The bacteria can spread further into the blood and cause life-threatening problems.
Symptoms may include:
- Fever and chills
- Enlarged and tender lymph nodes (glands) -- usually in the elbow, armpit, or groin
- General ill feeling (malaise)
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
- Muscle aches
- Red streaks from the infected area to the armpit or groin (may be faint or obvious)
- Throbbing pain along the affected area
Lymphangitis may spread within hours. Treatment should begin right away.
Treatment may include:
- Antibiotics by mouth or IV (through a vein) to treat any infection
- Pain medicine to control pain
- Anti-inflammatory medicines to reduce inflammation and swelling
- Cool compresses to reduce inflammation and pain
Surgery may be needed to drain an abscess.
Isabel Cordero-Forner practices in Valencia, Spain. Ms. Cordero-Forner is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Lymphangitis. Her top areas of expertise are Lipedema, Lymphangitis, Lymphedema, and Milroy Disease.
Novacare Rehabilitation Of Ohio Inc
Shreeniwas Lele is a primary care provider, practicing in Internal Medicine in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Dr. Lele is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Lymphangitis. His top areas of expertise are Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young, Necrosis, Hypertension, Endoscopy, and Colonoscopy. Dr. Lele is currently accepting new patients.
Proliance Surgeons
Helen Kim, MD, is certified by the American College of Surgeons. She has a special interest in breast surgery, robotic surgery, and minimally invasive surgery. She is a trained and certified console surgeon on da Vinci® Single-Site™, the da Vinci® Surgical System, and EndoWrist®. She practices abdominal wall hernia repair and open, laparoscopic, and robot-assisted techniques for complex and recurrent hernias. She also performs gastrointestinal surgery, laparoscopic and open colectomy, cholecystectomy, appendectomy, anti-reflux surgery, and laparoscopic intra-abdominal scar release surgery.Dr. Kim treats high risk, benign, and malignant breast conditions through initial evaluation of high breast cancer risk patients, management and treatment of breast pain, nipple discharge, breast masses and image-detected lesions, as well as surgical management of breast cancer, which includes breast-conserving lumpectomy, skin-sparing and nipple-sparing mastectomy, and sentinel lymph node biopsy. She also coordinates breast reconstruction at the time of mastectomy.During her sabbatical year in 2010, she performed surgeries at Kijabe, Kenya as a short-term medical missionary for one month, travelled to France and Italy, and took oil-painting classes. In and out of the operating room, Dr. Kim places emphasis on meticulous surgical techniques and offers the most advanced minimally invasive approaches wherever applicable, while caring for the patient as a whole in the context of their other medical conditions. Dr. Kim is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Lymphangitis. Her top areas of expertise are Hernia, Umbilical Hernia, Pilonidal Sinus Disease, Gallbladder Disease, and Hernia Surgery.
Prompt treatment with antibiotics usually leads to a complete recovery. It may take weeks, or even months, for swelling to disappear. The amount of time it takes to recover depends on the cause.
Health problems that may occur include:
- Abscess (collection of pus)
- Cellulitis (a skin infection)
- Sepsis (a general or bloodstream infection)
Contact your provider or go to the emergency room if you have symptoms of lymphangitis.
Summary: Lymphedema is a chronic and progressive disease of the lymphatic vessels which affects about 300 million people worldwide. Patients may experience recurrent soft tissue infection of the limb affected by lymphedema, in terms of erysipelas, lymphangitis or cellulitis. No previous study has ever investigated the possible role of the gut microbiota in the genesis of acute infectious/inflammatory episo...
Published Date: May 19, 2023
Published By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Roy and Diana Vagelos Professor in Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, New York, NY. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Pasternack MS, Swartz MN. Lymphadenitis and lymphangitis. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 95.
Stevens DL, Bisno AL, Chambers HF, Dellinger EP, Goldstein EJ, Gorbach SL, Hirschmann JV, Kaplan SL, Montoya JG, Wade JC; Infectious Diseases Society of America. Practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of skin and soft tissue infections: 2014 update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clin Infect Dis. 2014 Jul 15;59(2):e10-52. Erratum in: Clin Infect Dis. 2015 May 1;60(9):1448. Dosage error in article text. PMID: 24973422. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24973422/.