Lymphangitis was found in 5-Minute Clinical Consult which helps you diagnose, treat, and follow up on over 900 medical conditions seen in everyday practice.
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Basics
Description
- Local inflammation of lymphatic vessels:
- Acute or chronic
- Usually due to trauma and/or infection of the nearby skin
Risk Factors
- Diabetes mellitus
- Chronic steroid use
- Prolonged time with a peripheral venous catheter in place
- Varicella infection
- Immunocompromise
- Human, animal, or insect bites
- Fungal skin infections
- Any trauma to the skin
- IV drug abuse
Etiology
- Acute or chronic infection of the skin causing inflammation of lymphatic channels
- Acute infection:
- Usually caused by group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus
- Less commonly caused by:
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Pasteurella multocida
- Spirillum minus (rat-bite disease)
- Pseudomonas
- Other Streptococcus sp.
- Chronic infection:
- Caused by parasites (filariasis) or fungi (sporotrichosis)
- Immunocompromised patients can be infected with gram-negative rods, gram-negative bacilli, or fungi.
- In fresh water, think Aeromonas hydrophila.
- Filariasis (most common worldwide causative agent is Wuchereria bancrofti) (2)
Commonly Associated Conditions
- Lymphedema
- Lymph node dissection
- Athlete’s foot
- Sporotrichosis
- Cellulitis (may coexist)
- Erysipelas (often coexists)
- Filarial infection (Wuchereria bancrofti)
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