What Should I Do If My Child Has Mesenteric Adenitis?

June 16, 2022

What Should I Do If My Child Has Mesenteric Adenitis?- AFC Urgent Care

Although this condition sounds scary, it’s often relatively harmless. Mesenteric adenitis will cause some stomach pain and discomfort for anywhere from a few days up to a couple of weeks, but it won’t cause any long-term issues once it subsides.

Our AFC Urgent Care South Charlotte team explains more about this relatively common condition among children and young teens below. Keep reading!

What Is Mesenteric Adenitis?

Mesenteric adenitis (sometimes known as mesenteric lymphadenitis) is the swelling of the lymph nodes in the mesentery, which connects the intestines to the abdomen wall. It’s often caused by a viral or bacterial infection in the intestines, which then causes the lymph nodes to swell up as they try to prevent the infection from spreading to the rest of the body.

Serious conditions like appendicitis and a condition called intussusception (when a part of an intestine slides into another part of the intestine) cause similar symptoms, but mesenteric adenitis is much less concerning than these two conditions. If your child experiences the symptoms we’ve listed below, he or she likely is dealing with mesenteric adenitis.

Common Mesenteric Adenitis Symptoms

Pain in the abdomen, often on the lower right side
Abdominal tenderness
Fever
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea

How Can I Treat Mesenteric Adenitis?

Because mesenteric adenitis is frequently caused by a viral infection, it will often need to run its course before it will go away. It is true, though, that this condition causes stomach pain and discomfort, so having your child take the recommended dosage of pain medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen will make it a bit easier to deal with.

However, if the infection is bacterial, your doctor will almost certainly prescribe an antibiotic to treat it. We’ve listed some of the most effective ways to help your child feel better in the meantime below.