Description

Lymphadenitis is a condition in which the small, round or bean-shaped groups of cells, called lymph nodes, swollen and inflamed. The inflammation can affect the lymph nodes in the membrane that connects the intestine to the wall around the area of the stomach, called the mesentery. Then, the condition is called mesenteric lymphadenitis (mez-un-TER-ik lim-fad-uh-NIE-tis).

An infection in the intestines, such as a virus, is the usual cause of mesenteric lymphadenitis. Also called adenitis mesenteric, the condition primarily affects children and adolescents.

Mesenteric lymphadenitis can act as appendicitis or a condition in which a part of the intestine slides into another part of the intestine, called intussusception. Unlike appendicitis or intussusception, mesenteric lymphadenitis is usually disappear on their own.

Symptoms

The possible symptoms of mesenteric lymphadenitis include:

  • Pain in the stomach area, often on the bottom right side, but the pain can be more spread out.
  • General of the tenderness of the stomach area.
  • Fever.
  • Enlargement of the mesenteric lymph nodes.

Depending on what is the cause of the condition, symptoms can also include:

  • The diarrhea.
  • Nausea and vomiting.

When to see a doctor

Pain in the area of the stomach is common in children and adolescents. So it can be difficult to know when to go to the doctor.

Call a healthcare professional immediately for a child who has:

  • Sudden and intense pain in the stomach area.
  • In the area of stomach pain with fever.
  • In the area of stomach pain with diarrhea or vomiting.
  • Sensitivity to the touch of the stomach area.
  • Stools with blood or maroon-colored stools.

Also, call a health care professional to a child has pain in the stomach area, which does not improve in a short period of time and also:

  • Has a change in bowel habits.
  • Have a loss of appetite.
  • It is not able to sleep.

Causes

The most common cause of mesenteric lymphadenitis is a viral infection, such as gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis is often called the stomach flu. This infection causes inflammation and swelling in the lymph nodes in the thin tissue that connects the intestine to the back of the wall around the area of the stomach, called the mesentery.

Other causes of mesenteric lymphadenitis include bacterial infection, inflammatory bowel disease and lymphoma.

Risk factors

Any infection that causes inflammation and swelling of the lymph nodes, the tissue that connects the intestine to the abdominal wall increases the risk of mesenteric lymphadenitis.

Conditions that increase the risk of mesenteric lymphadenitis include:

  • Viral or bacterial gastroenteritis.
  • The inflammatory bowel disease.
  • The lymphoma.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of mesenteric lymphadenitis involves taking a medical history and doing an examination. Tests may include:

  • Blood tests. Certain blood tests can help to show if there is an infection and what type of infection it is.
  • The imaging studies. An ultrasound of the area of the stomach is often used to diagnose mesenteric lymphadenitis. A ct scan of stomach area can also be used.

Treatment

Mild cases of mesenteric lymphadenitis and caused by a virus usually goes away on its own. The full recovery may take four weeks or more.

For the treatment of fever or pain, consider giving your child infants or children over-the-counter fever and pain medication, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others). They are safer than aspirin.

Use caution when giving aspirin to children or teenagers. Even though aspirin is approved for use in children older than 3 years of age, children and teenagers recovering from chickenpox or flu-like symptoms should never take aspirin. This is because aspirin has been linked with Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal in these children.

Antibiotics may be prescribed for moderate to severe bacterial infection.

Lifestyle and home remedies

For the symptoms of mesenteric lymphadenitis, have your child:

  • Get enough rest. Getting enough rest can help your child recover.
  • Drink fluids. Fluids help prevent the loss of body fluids, called dehydration, fever, vomiting, and diarrhea.
  • Apply moist heat. A warm, wet cloth applied to the stomach area can help to relieve the discomfort.
  • Eating a diet of liquids in small amounts. For example, eating a broth or chicken noodle soup.

Preparing for your appointment

If your child has symptoms of mesenteric lymphadenitis, make an appointment with a health care professional. Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

Make a list of:

  • Your child's symptoms, including symptoms that do not affect the stomach, and when they began. If possible, take your child's temperature several times before your appointment, and record the results.
  • Your child's key medical information, including other health conditions. Also the list of all the medications, vitamins and supplements your child takes, including doses. And take a record of your child vaccinated recently.
  • Questions to ask your health care professional.

So that it is possible to mesenteric lymphadenitis, some questions are:

  • What is the likely cause of my child's condition? There are other possible causes?
  • What evidence does my child need?
  • Is my child likely to have complications of this condition?
  • Does my child need treatment? If this is due to an infection, in the event that my child is taking antibiotics?
  • What can I do to make my child more comfortable? Are there foods that my child should not eat?
  • What symptoms should prompt me to call you while my son is recovering?
  • Is my disease child of the capture?
  • When my child return to school?

What to expect from your doctor

Your child's healthcare provider may ask:

  • Where is the pain?
  • The pain moved from one part of the stomach of the child to another part?
  • How bad is the pain? Does your child cry with pain or insist on lying?
  • What makes the pain feel worse?
  • What helps relieve the pain?
  • Your child has had problems like this before?
  • Other children in your family or in the school or in the daycare have symptoms similar to your child?
Symptoms and treatment of Mesenteric lymphadenitis