Swollen Lymph Nodes (Lymphadenopathy)

Lymphadenopathy is a term meaning “disease of the lymph nodes.” It is, however, almost synonymously used with “swollen/enlarged lymph nodes”. It could be due to infection, auto-immune disease, or malignancy.

Sjögren’s syndrome

Sjögren’s syndrome (also known as “Mikulicz disease” and “Sicca syndrome”) is an autoimmune disorder in which immune cells attack and destroy the exocrine glands that produce tears and saliva.

Photosensitivity

Sensitivity of the skin to a light source can take various forms. People with particular skin types are more sensitive to sunburn. Particular medications make the skin more sensitive to sunlight; these include most of the tetracycline antibiotics, heart drugs amiodarone, and sulfonamides. Particular conditions lead to increased light sensitivity. Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus experience skin symptoms after sunlight exposure; some types of porphyria are aggravated by sunlight. A rare hereditary condition xeroderma pigmentosum (a defect in DNA repair) is thought to increase the risk of UV-light-exposure-related cancer by increasing photosensitivity.

Membranous Glomerulonephritis

Membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN) is a slowly progressive disease of the kidney affecting mostly patients between ages of 30 and 50 years, usually Caucasian.

Lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes)

Lymphadenopathy is a term meaning “disease of the lymph nodes.” It is, however, almost synonymously used with “swollen/enlarged lymph nodes”. It could be due to infection, auto-immune disease, or malignancy.

Inflammation of a lymph node is called lymphadenitis. In practice, the distinction between lymphadenopathy and lymphadenitis is rarely made. (Inflammation of lymph channels is called lymphangitis.

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