What is lymphangitis in the arm?
Lymphangitis is an inflammation of the lymphatic system. These pathways are responsible for the transport of lymph fluid. While arteries carry the blood from the heart to the organs, the arms and the legs, the blood is returned via the veins.
However, about ten percent of the fluid initially remains in the tissue and is then returned to the heart via the lymph channels. If an inflammation occurs in these vessels, a so-called lymphangitis develops. One speaks of lymphangitis in the arm if at least one of these lymph vessels, which lead from the arm or hand back to the heart, is inflamed.
Causes
There are various causes that can be the basis of lymphangitis in the arm. In most cases, it is an infection that lies on the hand or arm and from there also leads to inflammation of the lymphatic vessels. Initially, often only the soft tissue (skin, subcutaneous fatty tissue, muscles, etc.)
is inflamed. If the infection spreads further, vessels, nerves and bones can also be affected. The lymphatic vessels are classically responsible for the removal of substances that are produced during inflammatory reactions.
This is why a large number of the inflammatory cells and the pathogens that are being fought off accumulate in the lymphatic vessels when the hand or arm is inflamed. If the body’s own immune system is insufficient, this can also lead to inflammation of the lymph vessels (lymphangitis). Typically, these are larger injuries, for example, caused by an accident or an injury that becomes infected with bacteria.
This results in a pronounced inflammation with possibly lymphangitis in the arm. Injuries by (pets) can also be the cause: In the case of an animal bite, pathogens from the saliva can enter the wound and lead to an infection with subsequent lymphangitis. Lymphangitis can also be caused by other inflammatory processes in the body. For example, autoimmune diseases, in which the immune system is directed against the body itself, can also lead to inflammation. In this case, however, blood vessels are more often affected by the inflammation and only rarely the lymph vessels.