Red streaks in the skin along the direction of regional lymph nodes indicate lymphatic involvement. Infection may spread within hours and can cause sepsis and death. Symptoms and signs
Warm skin over site of infection. The person may also have chills and a high fever - between 38 and 40 degrees Celsius - along with moderate throbbing pain and swelling. The red streaks can be clearly outlined and demarcated or just barely visible, particularly in dark-skinned patients. Malaise, tenderness at the site of infection, skin ulcers (a rare symptom of lymphangitis), rapid pulse, and enlarged, swollen, and tender lymph nodes are also seen. Appetite loss has been documented with the presence of inflammation (inflammation-associated anorexia), but it is unclear whether appetite loss seen in patients with lymphangitis leads to weight loss; in cases that develop after lymphedema—which can be upwards of 8.14% of the time—weight gain has actually been documented.If these symptoms are absent, it is suggestive of other underlying disorders such as tuberculosis, lymphoma, or Hodgkin’s disease. A person with lymphangitis should be hospitalized and closely monitored by medical professionals. In very minor cases, regular application of antibiotic creams and cleanliness of the area can accelerate the healing process with no medical professional intervention or consultation required. When the inferior limbs are affected, the redness of the skin runs over the great saphenous vein location and can be confused for thrombophlebitis. Chronic lymphangitis is a cutaneous condition that is the result of recurrent bouts of acute bacterial lymphangitis.
History
The Antihypertensive and Lipid Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT) study stopped its arm of the trial looking at alpha blockers, because doxazosin was less effective than a simple diuretic, and because patients on doxazosin had a 25% higher rate of cardiovascular disease and twice the rate of congestive heart failure as patients on diuretics. Pfizer, aware of the results before publication, launched a marketing campaign in early 2000, and sales were largely unaffected, despite the dangers highlighted by the study. References
External links
"Doxazosin". Drug Information Portal. U.S. National Library of Medicine.