Generalized lymphadenopathy

Generalized lymphadenopathy is swollen lymph glands in many areas of the body.

Generalized lymphadenopathy
Lymphadenopathy due to systemic lupus erythematosus with characteristic necrosis and haematoxylin bodies. H&E stain.
Specialty	Infectious disease

Usually this is in response to a body-wide infectious disease such as influenza and will go away once the person has recovered, but sometimes it can persist long-term, even when there is no obvious cause of disease. This is then called persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL).

Causes

• Infection :
  • Viral : Infectious mononucleosis, Infective hepatitis, AIDS
  • Bacterial : Tuberculosis, Brucellosis, secondary syphilis, Tularemia
  • Protozoal : Toxoplasmosis
  • Fungal : Histoplasmosis
• Malignant :
  • Leukaemia
  • Metastatic carcinoma
• Immunological :
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus
  • Felty's syndrome
  • Still's disease
  • Drug hypersensitivity as Hydantoin, Hydralazine, Allopurinol
• Misc. :
  • Sarcoidosis
  • Amyloidosis
  • Lipid storage disease
  • Hyperthyroidism