Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Coping
This article discusses the symptoms, causes, and treatment options for mesenteric adenitis.
Types of Mesenteric Adenitis
There are two types of mesenteric adenitis: primary andsecondary. Primary mesenteric adenitis develops without inflammatory processes in the abdomen, whereas secondary is directly associated with inflammation of the mesentery.
Who Is Most Likely to Develop Mesenteric Adenitis?
What Are the Symptoms of Mesenteric Adenitis?
When these lymph nodes become inflamed, mesenteric adenitis and itssymptoms can develop,which include:
Some of these symptoms can present similarly toappendicitis, but the two are different conditions.
Mesenteric Adenitis vs. Appendicitis
Appendicitis Symptoms
What Causes Mesenteric Adenitis?
Primary mesenteric adenitis isidiopathic, meaning it develops for no known reason. When there are no abnormalities or heightened levels of inflammation in the abdomen causing the symptoms of mesenteric adenitis, it is considered primary.
These infections cause the lymph nodes to swell when the body tries to filter them out of its system.
Celiac Disease and Mesenteric AdenitisIt had been commonly thought that a connection existed between celiac disease and mesenteric adenitis. However, recent research has found that to be a myth, and the two disorders are not related at all.
Celiac Disease and Mesenteric Adenitis
It had been commonly thought that a connection existed between celiac disease and mesenteric adenitis. However, recent research has found that to be a myth, and the two disorders are not related at all.
How Is Mesenteric Adenitis Diagnosed?
When proper diagnostics rule out appendicitis, healthcare providers will conduct anultrasound of the abdomento determine if the mesenteric lymph nodes are inflamed. Typically, if the mesenteric lymph nodes are 8 millimeters in diameter or larger, you will be diagnosed with mesenteric adenitis.
Other tests used to confirm a diagnosis include:
Health History and DiagnosisHealthcare providers will want to know the health history and any symptoms you or your child is experiencing. However, since the symptoms can be associated with many conditions, gathering this data is only a first step in the diagnostic process to help rule out more severe disorders or diseases.
Health History and Diagnosis
Healthcare providers will want to know the health history and any symptoms you or your child is experiencing. However, since the symptoms can be associated with many conditions, gathering this data is only a first step in the diagnostic process to help rule out more severe disorders or diseases.
How Is Mesenteric Adenitis Treated?
Once healthcare providers have diagnosed mesenteric adenitis properly, they will create a treatment plan. Managing symptoms and treating the underlying cause is the mainstay therapy for the syndrome.
To treat the pain, healthcare providers will prescribe Tylenol (acetaminophen) pain medications.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), such as Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen), may also be used in combination with acetaminophen to reduce inflammation while managing pain.
Other methods of managing the condition include:
How Long Does It Take To Recover From Mesenteric Adenitis?While some research has found that the inflammation and pain can resolve in as little as two to three weeks, it is more likely that a full recovery will take up to four weeks. Sometimes, a person can experience symptoms for up to 10 weeks.
How Long Does It Take To Recover From Mesenteric Adenitis?
While some research has found that the inflammation and pain can resolve in as little as two to three weeks, it is more likely that a full recovery will take up to four weeks. Sometimes, a person can experience symptoms for up to 10 weeks.
How Often Should Pain Medications Be Taken?
How to Cope With Mesenteric Adenitis
Coping with the pain associated with mesenteric adenitis can be challenging but not impossible. To cope with the symptoms while the syndrome heals, do the following:
Rare Complications to Watch Out ForWhile mesenteric adenitis is typically mild or moderate and poses no severe health threat, a rare complication ofischemic colitiscan occur.Ischemic colitis develops when blood flow to the large intestines is blocked. Symptoms to watch out for include:Worsening abdominal pain, cramping, or tenderness in the stomachBlood in the stool or the passing of blood through the anus without stoolAn increased urgency to pass stoolDiarrheaNauseaLow fever
Rare Complications to Watch Out For
While mesenteric adenitis is typically mild or moderate and poses no severe health threat, a rare complication ofischemic colitiscan occur.Ischemic colitis develops when blood flow to the large intestines is blocked. Symptoms to watch out for include:Worsening abdominal pain, cramping, or tenderness in the stomachBlood in the stool or the passing of blood through the anus without stoolAn increased urgency to pass stoolDiarrheaNauseaLow fever
While mesenteric adenitis is typically mild or moderate and poses no severe health threat, a rare complication ofischemic colitiscan occur.Ischemic colitis develops when blood flow to the large intestines is blocked. Symptoms to watch out for include:
Ischemia and Its Symptoms and Causes
Summary
Mesenteric adenitis will go away over time as the infection that causes it clears up. In the meantime, you can use prescribed or OTC pain and fever medications to manage symptoms. Hydration and rest are also important while recovering from mesenteric adenitis.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Helbling R, Conficconi E, Wyttenbach M, Benetti C, Simonetti GD, Bianchetti MG, Hamitaga F, Lava SA, Fossali EF, Milani GP.Acute nonspecific mesenteric lymphadenitis: More than “no need for surgery”.Biomed Res Int.2017;2017:9784565. doi:10.1155/2017/9784565Penberthy K, Mendoza J, Mendoza M, Harrison G, Lancaster L, Belyea B, Zeichner SL.Abdominal pain and intermittent fevers in a 16-year-old girl.Pediatrics.2019 Sep;144(3):e20190093. doi:10.1542/peds.2019-0093Özdamar MY, Karavaş E.Acute mesenteric lymphadenitis in children: Findings related to differential diagnosis and hospitalization.Arch Med Sci.2018 Nov 8;16(2):313-320. doi:10.5114/aoms.2018.79430Benetti C, Conficconi E, Hamitaga F, Wyttenbach M, Lava SAG, Milani GP, Bianchetti MG, Simonetti GD, Helbling R.Course of acute nonspecific mesenteric lymphadenitis: Single-center experience.Eur J Pediatr.2018 Feb;177(2):243-246. doi:10.1007/s00431-017-3010-0MyHealthAlberta.Mesentric adentis: After your child’s visit.Birkhold, M. Langenburg, S.Is mesenteric adenitis a benign condition? Ischemic colitis secondary to mesenteric adenitis in a 12-year-old.Journ Pediac Surgery.December 2016;15:19-21. doi:10.1016/j.epsc.2016.09.004
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Helbling R, Conficconi E, Wyttenbach M, Benetti C, Simonetti GD, Bianchetti MG, Hamitaga F, Lava SA, Fossali EF, Milani GP.Acute nonspecific mesenteric lymphadenitis: More than “no need for surgery”.Biomed Res Int.2017;2017:9784565. doi:10.1155/2017/9784565Penberthy K, Mendoza J, Mendoza M, Harrison G, Lancaster L, Belyea B, Zeichner SL.Abdominal pain and intermittent fevers in a 16-year-old girl.Pediatrics.2019 Sep;144(3):e20190093. doi:10.1542/peds.2019-0093Özdamar MY, Karavaş E.Acute mesenteric lymphadenitis in children: Findings related to differential diagnosis and hospitalization.Arch Med Sci.2018 Nov 8;16(2):313-320. doi:10.5114/aoms.2018.79430Benetti C, Conficconi E, Hamitaga F, Wyttenbach M, Lava SAG, Milani GP, Bianchetti MG, Simonetti GD, Helbling R.Course of acute nonspecific mesenteric lymphadenitis: Single-center experience.Eur J Pediatr.2018 Feb;177(2):243-246. doi:10.1007/s00431-017-3010-0MyHealthAlberta.Mesentric adentis: After your child’s visit.Birkhold, M. Langenburg, S.Is mesenteric adenitis a benign condition? Ischemic colitis secondary to mesenteric adenitis in a 12-year-old.Journ Pediac Surgery.December 2016;15:19-21. doi:10.1016/j.epsc.2016.09.004
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Helbling R, Conficconi E, Wyttenbach M, Benetti C, Simonetti GD, Bianchetti MG, Hamitaga F, Lava SA, Fossali EF, Milani GP.Acute nonspecific mesenteric lymphadenitis: More than “no need for surgery”.Biomed Res Int.2017;2017:9784565. doi:10.1155/2017/9784565Penberthy K, Mendoza J, Mendoza M, Harrison G, Lancaster L, Belyea B, Zeichner SL.Abdominal pain and intermittent fevers in a 16-year-old girl.Pediatrics.2019 Sep;144(3):e20190093. doi:10.1542/peds.2019-0093Özdamar MY, Karavaş E.Acute mesenteric lymphadenitis in children: Findings related to differential diagnosis and hospitalization.Arch Med Sci.2018 Nov 8;16(2):313-320. doi:10.5114/aoms.2018.79430Benetti C, Conficconi E, Hamitaga F, Wyttenbach M, Lava SAG, Milani GP, Bianchetti MG, Simonetti GD, Helbling R.Course of acute nonspecific mesenteric lymphadenitis: Single-center experience.Eur J Pediatr.2018 Feb;177(2):243-246. doi:10.1007/s00431-017-3010-0MyHealthAlberta.Mesentric adentis: After your child’s visit.Birkhold, M. Langenburg, S.Is mesenteric adenitis a benign condition? Ischemic colitis secondary to mesenteric adenitis in a 12-year-old.Journ Pediac Surgery.December 2016;15:19-21. doi:10.1016/j.epsc.2016.09.004
Helbling R, Conficconi E, Wyttenbach M, Benetti C, Simonetti GD, Bianchetti MG, Hamitaga F, Lava SA, Fossali EF, Milani GP.Acute nonspecific mesenteric lymphadenitis: More than “no need for surgery”.Biomed Res Int.2017;2017:9784565. doi:10.1155/2017/9784565
Penberthy K, Mendoza J, Mendoza M, Harrison G, Lancaster L, Belyea B, Zeichner SL.Abdominal pain and intermittent fevers in a 16-year-old girl.Pediatrics.2019 Sep;144(3):e20190093. doi:10.1542/peds.2019-0093
Özdamar MY, Karavaş E.Acute mesenteric lymphadenitis in children: Findings related to differential diagnosis and hospitalization.Arch Med Sci.2018 Nov 8;16(2):313-320. doi:10.5114/aoms.2018.79430
Benetti C, Conficconi E, Hamitaga F, Wyttenbach M, Lava SAG, Milani GP, Bianchetti MG, Simonetti GD, Helbling R.Course of acute nonspecific mesenteric lymphadenitis: Single-center experience.Eur J Pediatr.2018 Feb;177(2):243-246. doi:10.1007/s00431-017-3010-0
MyHealthAlberta.Mesentric adentis: After your child’s visit.
Birkhold, M. Langenburg, S.Is mesenteric adenitis a benign condition? Ischemic colitis secondary to mesenteric adenitis in a 12-year-old.Journ Pediac Surgery.December 2016;15:19-21. doi:10.1016/j.epsc.2016.09.004
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