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Lymphangitis

Sarah Wiggill, M.D. Reviewed 05/2023
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Acute or chronic inflammation of lymphatic vessels that typically presents as red, tender streaks rapidly extending proximally to regional lymph nodes

  • May be infectious or noninfectio...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Skin breakdown or trauma

  • Erythematous streaks that can spread within a few hours

  • Systemic symptoms: fever, chills, malaise, loss of appetite, headache, muscle aches

  • Travel to filariasis ...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Hot, moist compresses to affected area

  • Elevate affected extremity

  • Compression devices and weight loss may help lymphedema

  • Abstinence from sexual activity for sclerosing lymphang...

ONGOING CARE

  • Routine use of compression devices to reduce lymphedema

  • Lymphedema physical therapy

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Elevate affected area

  • 48-hour follow-up to ensure improvement

  • Work up recurrent ly...

REFERENCES

1
Kano Y, Momose T. Acute lymphangitis. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine. March 2020;87(3):129-130.

ADDITIONAL READING

Tirado-Sánchez A, Bonifaz A. Nodular Lymphangitis (Sporotrichoid Lymphocutaneous Infections) Clues to Differential Diagnosis. Journal of Fungi. 2018; 4(2): 56.  

CODES

ICD10

  • I89.1 Lymphangitis

  • L03.91 Acute lymphangitis, unspecified

  • N48.29 Other inflammatory disorders of penis

  • B74.0 Filariasis due to Wuchereria bancrofti

  • B74.1 Filariasis due to Brugia malayi

  • B74.2 Fi...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Lymphangitis classically presents with erythematous linear streaks of the skin from site of entry (e.g., bite, cut, abrasion) proximally to regional lymph nodes.

  • Patients with prior sur...

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