Introduction
Lymph node swelling after a dental root canal treatment may indicate an infection related to the previous treatment. Lymph node swelling is initially a very unspecific symptom that has no disease value and only in a few cases results in a disease that requires treatment. In the case of lymph node swelling, irritation of the lymph node leads to a swelling that can be painful and reddened.
The irritation can be caused mechanically or by pathogens that have been sponged into the lymph node. After pathogen contact, the immune defence cells in the lymph node multiply and form antibodies against the pathogen in order to prepare the body for an immune response. This leads to lymph node swelling in the area of the initial infection with the pathogen. The severity of the infection can range from a complete absence of symptoms to severe infections of the entire body.
Causes
The cause of lymph node swelling after root canal treatment is in most cases an initial infection with a bacterial, viral or other pathogen. Especially dental treatments such as root canal treatment are known to have a slightly increased risk of infection. The pathogens can enter the bloodstream through the wounds in the mouth and be washed up in the surrounding lymph nodes.
The pathogens originate from the skin flora, the saliva of the oral mucosa or the dental instruments used. The bacteria or viruses are recognized as such in the lymph node, whereupon an immune reaction with the formation of antibodies occurs, causing the lymph node to swell. The subsequent infection can take on different proportions. In many cases, there is only a slight swelling of the lymph nodes without further symptoms. Depending on the pathogen and the immune status of the person affected, inflammatory reactions of varying severity can follow, which in the worst case can become life-threatening.
Other accompanying symptoms
The main symptoms are in the early stages of the infection at the lymph node. This is where the typical “cardinal signs” of inflammation, redness, swelling, overheating and pressure pain occur. The lymph node can swell to very different sizes and can sometimes already be visible from the outside without touching.
Often the lymph node swelling is located on the neck, nape of the neck, lower jaw or near the collarbone. As a result, several lymph nodes can be affected. If the infection spreads, it can lead to headaches and aching limbs, weakness, malaise, fever and muscle pain.
The inflammation can spread to different parts of the body and lead to involvement of different organs such as the respiratory system. Milk swelling in the left upper abdomen is also possible. In severe cases, cardiac involvement may occur with audible heart murmur, increased pulse and fever.
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