boil or lymphnode?

Question

I have what I belive is a boil on my upper back but close to my neck at first it hurt really bad the slightest touch would kill me but after a week or so it stopped hurting but there has been a little hard lump there for a while. I had something similiar to this before and the doctors said it was a boil. Im just wodering what would the difference be between a boil or a lymphnode?

Also I got a really bad pimple on my lower cheek but I normally get these after shaving, sometimes they can take a while to heal however the one I have now has not gone away in atleast 1.5 months this is why I ask boil or lymph. the one on my cheek did have pus at one point but it's still there and the one on my back I dont recall it ever have pus it felt really deep and painful and now it is a really small bump which is decreasing. about 4months ago I had one in my pubic hair area and my doc checked it out and said it is a boil and its kinda the same feeling on my back but how long should boils last?

Answer 1

Was it hot to the touch? Did anything leak out of it? If so, it was probably a boil. A lymph node is part of your immune system and will enlarge if there is an infection present. That's why a doctor feels around your jawline and neck - he's seeing if your lymph nodes are inflamed. Is it in the same spot the other boil was in? If so, that is a recurring boil and can sometimes be corrected by having the doctor lance the boil.

Answer 2

Boil's are usually very painful and hurt, generally starts out as a small ingrown hair and manifests into a boil. (Infection starts and grows bigger and hurts more). A lymphnode would be right under your armpits, around your diaphram area, around the same area's by your ear and in the creases in your hips above your groin area. There is a sauve you can buy that I found effective called goldine sauve. It smells really bad, and it can leave stains on clothing. Another suggestion is if you are going to shave and have a tendancy to get them, make sure you use a fresh razor prior to shaving. Dull razors can nick the skin and then over growth of the skin traps bacteria and causes the start of and ingrown hair/boil. Also, placing a warm wash cloth over the infected area helps. You may want to get is checked to make sure it is not a deep tissue cyst. Sometimes doctor's need to cauterize it so the cyst can drain. Not painful, had one removed from my armpit once.

Answer 3

Swollen Supratrochlear Lymph Nodes

Answer 4

Do you suffer from acne? Upper back is not the place where you usually find lymphnodes. It just could be an acne, manifesting as a boil on the upper back.

Answer 5

LYMPH NODES
Lymph nodes are bean-shaped and range in size from a few millimeters to about 1-2 cm in their normal state. They may become enlarged due to a tumor or infection. In some cases, they may feel enlarged due to past infections; although one may be perfectly healthy, one may still feel residually enlarged. The lymph node is surrounded by a fibrous capsule, and inside the lymph node the fibrous capsule extends to form trabeculae. Thin reticular fibers form a supporting meshwork inside the node. The concave side of the lymph node is called the hilum. The artery and vein attach at the hilum and allow blood to enter and leave the organ, respectively. The parenchyma of the lymph node is divided into an outer cortex and an inner medulla. The cortex is absent at the hilum.

The cortex contains several oval-shaped lymphoid nodules (also called follicles) which are aggregates of lymphocytes contained within a meshwork of supporting cells. Nodules that consist mainly of small lymphocytes are called primary nodules. Nodules called secondary nodules are those that contain a pale central region called a germinal center. The germinal center forms (and thus a primary nodule becomes a secondary nodule) when a B cell that has recognized an antigen undergoes proliferation, differentiates into plasma cells, and forms antibodies.

The band of the cortex adjacent to the medulla is the deep cortex, also called the juxtamedullary cortex or paracortex. This layer is devoid of nodules. Formation of the deep cortex depends on the migration of T cells. Thus it is sometimes also called the thymus-dependent cortex. In comparison, the layer of the cortex that contains nodules is called the nodular cortex.

The medulla consists of cords of lymphatic tissue (medullary cords) separated by vessel-like spaces called medullary sinuses.

Lymph travels to the lymph node via afferent lymphatic vessels and drains into the node just beneath the capsule in a space called the subcapsular sinus. The subcapsular sinus drains into trabecular sinuses and finally into medullary sinuses. The sinus space is criss-crossed by the pseudopods of macrophages which act to trap foreign particles and filter the lymph. The medullary sinuses converge at the hilum and lymph then leaves the lymph node via the efferent lymphatic vessel.

Lymphocytes, both B cells and T cells, constantly circulate through the lymph nodes. They enter the lymph node via the bloodstream and may cross the wall of the bloodvessel by the process of diapedesis. The B cells migrate to the nodular cortex and medulla, and the T cells migrate to the deep cortex.

When a lymphocyte recognizes an antigen, B cells become activated and migrate to germinal centers. When antibody-producing plasma cells are formed, they migrate to the medullary cords. Stimulation of the lymphocytes by antigens can accelerate the migration process to about 10 times normal, resulting in characteristic swelling of the lymph nodes.


The human lymphatic systemThe spleen and tonsils are large lymphoid organs that serve similar functions to lymph nodes, though the spleen filters out blood cells rather than bacteria or viruses.

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Lymph nodes of the head and neck
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Anterior cervical
These nodes, both superficial and deep, lie above and beneath the sternocleidomastoid muscles. They drain the internal structures of the throat as well as part of the posterior pharynx, tonsils, and thyroid gland.

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Posterior cervical
These nodes extend in a line posterior to the sternocleidomastoids but in front of the trapezius, from the level of the mastoid bone to the clavicle. They are frequently enlarged during upper respiratory infections.

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Tonsillar
These nodes are located just below the angle of the mandible. They drain the tonsillar and posterior pharyngeal regions.

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Sub-mandibular
These nodes run along the underside of the jaw on either side. They drain the structures in the floor of the mouth.

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Sub-mental
These nodes are just below the chin. They drain the teeth and intra-oral cavity.

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Supraclavicular
These nodes are in the hollow above the clavicle, just lateral to where it joins the sternum. They drain a part of the thoracic cavity and abdomen. Virchow's node is a left supraclavicular lymph node which receives the lymph drainage from most of the body (especially the abdomen) via the thoracic duct and is thus an early site of metastasis for various malignancies.

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Lymph nodes of the arm
These drain the whole of the arm, and are divided into two groups, superficial and deep. The superficial nodes are supplied by lymphatics which are present throughout the arm, but are particularly rich on the palm and flexor aspects of the digits.

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Superficial lymph glands of the arm

Lymphatics of the armThese comprise the:

supratrochlear glands, situated above the medial epicondyle of the humerus, medial to the basilic vein. They drain the C7 and C8 dermatomes.
deltoideopectoral glands, situated between the pectoralis major and deltoid muscles inferior to the clavicle.
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Deep lymph glands of the arm

Lymphatics of the axillary regionThese comprise the axillary glands, which are 20-30 individual glands and can be subdivided into:

lateral glands
anterior or pectoral glands
posterior or subscapular glands
central or intermediate glands
medial or subclavicular glands



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See also
Adenitis
Inguinal lymph node
Lymphadenectomy


BOIL

Symptoms
The symptoms of boils are red, pus-filled lumps that are tender, warm, and/or painful. A yellow or white point at the center of the lump can be seen when the boil is ready to drain or discharge pus. In a severe infection, multiple boils may develop and the patient may experience fever and swollen lymph nodes. A recurring boil is called chronic furunculosis.

In some people, itching may develop before the lumps begin to develop. Boils are most often found on the back, underarms, shoulders, face and buttocks.

Sometimes the boil will emit an unpleasant smell.

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Causes
Boils are generally caused by an infection of the hair follicles by Staphylococcus aureus or staph, a strain of bacteria that normally live on the skin surface. It is thought that a tiny cut of the skin allows this bacterium to enter the follicles and cause an infection. This can happen during bathing while using a razor.

People with immune system disorders, diabetes, poor hygiene or malnutrition (Vitamin A or E deficiency) are particularly susceptible to getting boils. However they may also occur in healthy, hygienic individuals.

Hidradenitis suppurativa causes frequent boils.




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Treatments
Most boils run their course within 4 to 10 days. For most people, self-care by applying a warm compress or soaking the boil in warm water can help alleviate the pain and hasten draining of the pus (colloquially referred to as "bringing the boil to a head"). Once the boil drains, the area should be washed with antibacterial soap and bandaged well.

For recurring cases, supplement your diet with Vitamin A and E.

For serious cases, prescription oral antibiotics such as dicloxacillin (Dynapen) or cephalexin (Keflex), or topical antiboitics, are commonly used. For patients allergic to penicillin-based drugs erythromycin (E-base, Erycin) may also be used.

However, some boils can have the Community acquired MRSA bacteria which is Methicillin Resistant Staph Areus. At which time Bactrim or other Sulfa drugs must be prescribed relatively soon after boil has started to form. MRSA tends to increase the speed of growth of the infection.

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Prognosis
For most cases, there are no serious complications and a full recovery is expected

Answer 6

Since you say you've had one of these "boils" in your groin, and you've had them come back, I would seriously look into the possibility of Hidradenitis Suppurativa (www.hs-usa.org).