Introduction
Lymphangitis occurs when a lymph vessel becomes inflamed. In most cases, the pathogens causing lymphangitis are bacteria. This inflammation is often mistakenly called “blood poisoning”, but this is not the correct term for lymphangitis.
In blood poisoning, also known as sepsis, the pathogens circulate through the entire bloodstream and are not only found locally in the lymph vessels. Blood poisoning is therefore also much more dangerous because the pathogens spread to all kinds of organs and, in the worst case, can lead to life-threatening multi-organ failure. Possible causes for such an inflammation can be small injuries, insect bites or pre-existing local inflammations.
In the case of a small, localized finding, it is possible to apply a local therapy with certain ointments. In pronounced cases of disease, systemic antibiotic therapy is necessary. In most cases lymphangitis has a very good prognosis.
How long do the symptoms of lymphangitis last?
The symptoms of lymphangitis begin with a small injury, such as an insect bite. In most cases, this area appears reddish, swollen and painful. This injury can last for several days until lymphangitis develops.
Bacteria from the wound enter the lymphatic system, which appears to run from the wound towards the heart as a red stripe. This is because the main lymphatic vessels along which lymphangitis spreads open into a large vein immediately in front of the heart. This inflamed lymphatic tract, which appears as a red, inflamed stripe in the direction of the heart, can also be painful and warm.
After hours or days, the nearest lymph node reacts to the inflammation and becomes larger and painful under pressure. If no therapy is given in the early stages of the inflammation, the bacteria can spread throughout the body via the bloodstream. In this case, we speak of a blood infection, which manifests itself symptomatically as fever, chills, palpitations and a feeling of illness.
These symptoms can last for days to weeks and can even become life-threatening if no antibiotic therapy is administered. Lymphangitis generally has a very good prognosis. However, if it is not treated, the symptoms can become chronic or can lead to blood poisoning. The course and duration of an inflammation is always individually different. If typical symptoms occur, a medical presentation is always recommended.
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