The main symptom of mesenteric adenitis is pain in the lower right side of the abdomen.
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.
Who Is Most Likely to Develop Mesenteric Adenitis?
Children, adolescents, and young adults are most affected by mesenteric adenitis.
What Are the Symptoms of Mesenteric Adenitis?
Mesenteric lymph nodes are located within the abdomen and are part of thelymphatic system.
They produce white blood cells,lymphocytes, that help the immune system fight infection and disease.
Lymph nodes also aid immunity by filtering out harmful pathogens, such as bacteria, from the body.
Appendicitis happens when the appendix becomes inflamed, whereas mesenteric adenitis is inflammation of the lymph nodes.
What Causes Mesenteric Adenitis?
Primary mesenteric adenitis isidiopathic, meaning it develops for no known reason.
How Is Mesenteric Adenitis Diagnosed?
It often is difficult for healthcare providers to diagnose mesenteric adenitis because it presents similarly to appendicitis.
Because of that, the diagnostic process starts by ruling out other, more dangerous health conditions.
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.
Sometimes, a person can experience symptoms for up to 10 weeks.
It typically affects children, adolescents, and young adults following an infection.
The symptomsmainly pain and tenderness in the lower right part of the abdomenmimic appendicitis.
Mesenteric adenitis will go away over time as the infection that causes it clears up.
Hydration and rest are also important while recovering from mesenteric adenitis.
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
