Allergic reaction is amiss behavior of your immune system towards foreign substances. Whereas, lymph nodes are vital part of your immune system and is present all over the body. However, they are visible only when they swell.
Can Allergies Cause Swollen Lymph Nodes?
No, they aren’t associated with each other. But, read further to know more.
Lymph system carries nutrients, lymph fluid and other waste materials between body tissues. Injury, infection and tumor can cause swelling of lymph nodes.
According to medicinenet.com, infection is the major cause of swollen lymph nodes which include infectious mononucleosis, chickenpox, measles, HIV, common cold, adenovirus and tuberculosis.
How Immune System Reacts to Allergens?
Any substance that doesn’t go well with your immune system will be thrown out.
It can be food, personal care products or any weird thing you could image.
When a hypersensitive person comes in contact or ingests any of the allergic substances, immune system releases IgE antibodies for a combat. Mast cells are activated once the foreign substance is discovered.
As a result person will experience adverse symptoms.
Relation of Swollen Lymph Nodes to Allergies
An infection initiated by airborne allergies may lead to swelling of lymph nodes.
Lymph nodes also known as lymph glands consist of lymphocytes, which is a specialized immune cell.
Lymphocytes thwart infectious bacteria and virus
. In rare cases, with infection triggered by an allergic reaction, lymphocytes at a particular area gets activated resulting swollen node.
For instance, if a person is affected by pollen, mold, pet dander or any seasonal allergy, sinus and ear infection is triggered. This infection may tender small lymph nodes in the neck and head.
Don’t worry; once allergic reaction is diagnosed slowly its symptoms disappear.
Enlarged Lymph Nodes
From above information, you might know that swelling of lymph nodes is caused by many factors including ailments and in rare cases allergies.
Small sized lymph nodes aren’t a matter of concern. But, enlarged is something serious. Hard and consistently growing lymph node needs immediate medical attention.