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Lymphangitis

Lindsay N Moy, DO and thomas holmes Reviewed 06/2021
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

Acute or chronic inflammation of lymphatic channels that typically presents as red, tender streaks extending (often quickly) to regional lymph nodes 
  • May be infectious or noninfectio...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Trauma to skin, cut, abrasion, or fungal infection

  • Erythematous streaks that can spread within a few hours (3)

  • Systemic symptoms:

    • Malaise

    • Fever and chills

    • Loss of appetite

    • Headache

    • Muscle a...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Hot, moist compresses to affected area

  • Compression garments and weight loss may help lymphedema.

  • Abstinence from sexual activity for sclerosing lymphangitis

MEDICATION

  • Treat comm...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Elevate affected area

  • 48-hour follow-up to ensure improvement

  • Work up recurrent lymphangitis to ascertain underlying cause (other infectious organism, anatomic abno...

REFERENCES

1
Taylor  MJ, Hoerauf  A, Bockarie  M. Lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis. Lancet.  2010;376(9747):1175–1185. [View Abstract on OvidMedline] ...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Babu  AK, Krishnan  P, Andezuth  DD. Sclerosing lymphangitis of penis—literature review and report of 2 cases. Dermatol Online J.  2014;20(7):13030/q...

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) to regional lymph nodes.

  • Patients with prior surgical lymph...

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