Mesenteric lymphadenitis (more commonly known as mesenteric adenitis) is not an overly concerning condition. It usually only occurs among children and young teens, and it typically goes away on its own within a few days or few weeks.

Just like with pretty much any condition, though, it can cause concerning symptoms in rare cases. Read on to learn more from our AFC Urgent Care Mooresville team.

What Is Mesenteric Adenitis?

Mesenteric adenitis refers to the swelling of the lymph nodes in the abdomen. 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 in which part of the intestine slides into another part of the intestine (intussusception) cause similar symptoms, but mesenteric adenitis is much less concerning. 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

Does Mesenteric Adenitis Cause Serious Complications?

Not usually, but it can in rare cases. The most serious sign is having swollen lymph nodes for an extended amount of time. When this happens, it can be due to a severe bacterial infection, which can spread to the bloodstream and cause sepsis, a life-threatening infection of the blood. Like we said earlier, though, this is very rare and not likely if your child is diagnosed with mesenteric adenitis.

However, it’s always good to be on the safe side, so if your child is experiencing the symptoms we’ve listed below, visit our AFC center to get a diagnosis and treatment plan.

When to See a Doctor

• Your child has episodes of sudden, severe abdominal pain
• Your child has episodes of abdominal pain with fever
• Your child has episodes of abdominal pain with diarrhea or vomiting

We’re here for your family seven days a week! You don’t need an appointment to visit our AFC team, so stop by today.