The cause of Hodgkin's disease is not known. It is suspected that some interaction between an individual's genetic makeup, environmental exposures, and infectious agents may be responsible. Immune system deficiencies also may be involved.

Early symptoms of Hodgkin's disease may be similar to those of the flu:

• fevers, night sweats, chills
• fatigue
• loss of appetite
• weight loss
• itching
• pain after drinking alcoholic beverages
• swelling of one or more lymph nodes

Sudden or emergency symptoms of Hodgkin's disease include:

• sudden high fever
• loss of bladder and/or bowel control
• numbness in the arms and legs and a loss of strength

As lymph nodes swell, they may push on other structures, causing a variety of symptoms:

• pain due to pressure on nerve roots
• loss of function in muscle groups served by compressed nerves
• coughing or shortness of breath due to compression of the windpipe and/or airways, by swollen lymph nodes in the chest
• kidney failure from compression of the ureters, the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder
• swelling in the face, neck, or legs, due to pressure on veins
• paralysis in the legs due to pressure on the spinal cord

As Hodgkin's disease progresses, the immune system becomes less effective at fighting infection. Thus, patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma become more susceptible to both common infections caused by bacteria and unusual (opportunistic) infections. Later symptoms of Hodgkin's disease include the formation of tumors.

Significantly, as many as 75% of individuals with Hodgkin's disease do not have any typical symptoms.