The thymus gland is placed in the upper quantum of the chest, between the lungs. The gland is more active during childhood and hence, it is bigger in size in kids. As a person ages, the size of the gland reduces. This small gland plays a necessary role in the output of lymphocytes, which are cells of the immune law that kill and destroy invading pathogens and foreign particles in the body. Hence, any qoute relationship with the thymus gland can adversely influence the immune system.
Some of the thymus gland disorders are highlighted below:
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At times, the gland can be absent at birth or it can be under developed. This occurs due to DiGeorge syndrome wherein the affected person does not have the twenty-second chromosome. It is foremost to note that when this chromosome is missing, all parts linked with it will be under industrialized or missing. Absence or having an under industrialized thymus gland leads to a poor immune law and makes the person more prone to infections and illnesses.
Another disorder linked to the thymus gland is Severe Combined Immunodeficiency. This is a genetic disorder, which results in the feebleness of the immune system. Basically, when a person has this genetic disorder, the gland atrophies due to lack of proximity of immune cells. When a person is diagnosed with this disorder, he or she is has to take antibiotics usually to boost the working of the immune system.
Thymoma is the proximity of tumor in the thymus gland. This tumor is benign, but it wreaks havoc with the functioning of the gland. This disorder is more prevalent in people who are more than 40 years old. Some of the people may not have any symptoms of thymoma, while others may complain of pain in the chest, fever, fatigue, breathing difficulties, wheezing and night sweats.
The thymus can also be affected by cancer. When a tumor develops in the gland, it can spread to the neighboring tissues and can come to be life threatening. Hence, if malignant tumors are detected in the thymus, they are surgically removed.
It has been observed that any disorder linked to the thymus gland does not show any symptoms in the first stages. However, as the disorder progresses, the symptoms tend to appear. Some of the tasteless symptoms linked to gland disorders contain loss of weight, pain in the chest, fever, problems while breathing, wheezing, cough and night sweats. In addition, the person will also have lowered immunity production him or her more susceptible to infections. The rehabilitation quantum adopted varies based on the disorder.
Thymus Gland Disorders