Symptoms. Since the pathological process may be involved, any part of widely represented in the body of the lymphoid tissue, clinical signs of Hodgkin's disease depends on the area of destruction. The first complaint is usually an increase in peripheral (easily palpable) lymph nodes. First, most often affects the lymph nodes of the neck, and then axillary and inguinal. If an increase occurs rapidly, they can be painful. Sometimes the first affected nodes in chest and abdominal cavities. In such cases, patients initially complain of cough, shortness of breath, pain in the chest or abdomen, loss of appetite or a feeling of heaviness in the stomach. After some time, from several weeks to several months and sometimes years, the disease loses its local character and extends to the lymph nodes throughout the body. Increasing spleen, and often the liver. Lymph nodes in the abdominal cavity may reach such proportions that are squeezing the stomach, kidneys shift and cause pain in the pit of the stomach or back. In the pleural cavity around the lungs may accumulate fluid, sometimes affects the lungs themselves. Any damage to bones as causing severe pain.

In addition to local manifestations are observed and common symptoms - fever, sometimes with sweating at night, itchy skin, lack of appetite, progressive weakness, weight loss and in the later stages of the disease - anemia. There is also a greater susceptibility to infectious diseases, especially caused by the tuberculosis bacteria, fungi, some viruses such as herpes virus and poksvirusy, as well as protozoa. Increased susceptibility to infection manifested at the early stages of the disease, increases as it progresses and persists long after apparent cure. It reflects the inadequacy of certain immune cells, called T-lymphocytes, and violation of their functions. It is unclear whether the increased susceptibility to infections due most Hodgkin's disease or immune deficiency, inherent in the people who develop the disease.