In June of last year, Luo Jing, a famous broadcasting host of China Central Television (CCTV), died young at the age of 48 of “lymphoma”. When the news came out, everyone in the country felt sorry for him. At the same time, the country’s major hospital outpatient clinics received a sudden increase in the number of patients with enlarged lymph nodes, no matter men and women, young and old, all talk about “lymph” color change. In fact, swollen lymph nodes do not necessarily mean “lymphoma”. There are many causes for swollen lymph nodes, and lymphoma is only one of the many causes, and only accounts for a very small number of outpatients. Therefore, there is no need to be scared of “lymph”. Lymph nodes are important immune organs of human body. Normal people have about 500-600 lymph nodes, including superficial and deep lymph nodes. Enlargement of the superficial lymph nodes is often the main reason for patients to come to the clinic. The most common sites of superficial lymph node enlargement are the submandibular area and the sides of the neck, followed by the groin and armpits. There are 3 main common causes: 1. Lymphadenitis. Lymphadenitis is the most common cause of enlarged lymph nodes, which is often associated with infections of nearby tissues and organs, for example, pharyngolaryngitis, periodontitis, rhinitis, otitis media, etc. can cause enlarged submandibular or cervical lymph nodes, infections of the lower extremities can lead to enlarged inguinal lymph nodes, and infections of the upper extremities can lead to enlarged axillary lymph nodes. Lymphadenitis is often accompanied by obvious pain in addition to enlarged lymph nodes, usually about a week of anti-inflammatory treatment can be quickly cured, but some patients can still be found in the lymph nodes after the healing process, which does not have any effect on the body. 2.Lymphatic tuberculosis. Lymphatic tuberculosis is a special kind of chronic infection, which tends to progress slowly, and over time there will be multiple lymph nodes arranged in beads, and a few patients will have pus, and the wound will be hard to heal after ulceration. The treatment of lymphatic tuberculosis is the same as that of pulmonary tuberculosis. As long as the patient insists on anti-tuberculosis treatment, the disease can be cured in half a year to one year. Lymphoma. It includes malignant tumors originated from lymph nodes, such as lymphoma, lymphocytic leukemia and malignant histiocytosis, etc. and lymph node metastasis of other malignant tumors, such as lung cancer, gastric cancer and breast cancer, etc. Clinically, it is malignant and the lymph node metastasis can be cured in half a year. Clinically, lymph nodes are malignant and persistently enlarged, and will deteriorate and die if not actively treated. Therefore, when lymph node enlargement occurs, neither talk about “lymph”, nor ignore it, the key is to determine the cause and nature of the local enlargement with obvious pain is often suggestive of infection; progressive painless enlargement is often suggestive of malignant neoplastic diseases. If necessary, a lymph node biopsy can be performed to help confirm the diagnosis. To prevent lymph node enlargement, you must develop good habits; maintain a good state of mind, stable emotions; have a healthy diet, usually eat more fruits, vegetables, etc. to improve self-immunity; must work in the heavy fumes should try to protect themselves, such as wearing a mask, go out regularly to breathe some fresh air, at least once a year to do a checkup, etc.; away from smoke, alcohol, drugs, radiation, pesticides, noise, volatile and harmful gases, toxic and harmful heavy metals, etc..