Mesenteric Lymphadenitis: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention

The condition called lymphadenitis results in the swelling and inflammation of the lymph nodes, which are small, spherical, or bean-shaped collections of cells. Lymph nodes in the mesentery, which connect the gut to the wall of the stomach, could be affected by edema. The illness is known as mesenteric lymphadenitis.

The common cause of mesenteric lymphadenitis is a digestive disease, such as a virus. Adolescents and young adults are primarily affected by the disease, which is sometimes referred to as mesenteric adenitis.

Intussusception is a disorder in which a segment of the intestine slides into another region of the intestine; mesenteric lymphadenitis can mimic the symptoms of appendicitis. Appendicitis or intussusception usually requires medical attention before mesenteric lymphadenitis heals on its own.

Causes Of Mesenteric Lymphadenitis

The most common viral infection that results in mesenteric lymphadenitis is gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis is also referred to as the stomach flu. This infection causes the mesentery, the thin tissue that joins the intestine to the back of the stomach wall, to expand.

Other causes of mesenteric lymphadenitis include bacterial infections, malignancy, and inflammatory bowel disease.

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Symptoms Of Mesenteric Lymphadenitis

Some potential symptoms of mesenteric lymphadenitis include the following:

• Stomach ache, usually on the lower right side, but it can occasionally be more widespread.
• General soreness in the stomach area.
• Elevated temperature.
• Swollen lymph nodes in the mesenteric region.

Depending on what's causing the disease, other symptoms could include the following:

• Diarrhea.
• Nausea
• Vomiting.

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Diagnosis Of  Mesenteric Lymphadenitis

Diagnosing mesenteric lymphadenitis requires measuring symptoms and performing an examination. Potential examinations consist of:

• Blood tests: The type and existence of an illness can be ascertained with the help of specific blood tests.
• Imaging: An ultrasound of the stomach is often used to diagnose mesenteric lymphadenitis. Doing a stomach-region CT scan is an additional choice.

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Treatment Of Mesenteric Lymphadenitis

Most cases of mesenteric lymphadenitis, whether viral or minor, go away on their own. Recuperation could take up to four weeks.

To treat fever or discomfort, consider giving your child over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, etc.) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc.). These are safer than aspirin.

Use caution while giving aspirin to children or teenagers. Aspirin should never be administered to children or teenagers who are convalescing from the flu or chickenpox, even though it is safe for use in children over three. This is because these children have Reye's syndrome, an uncommon but potentially lethal sickness, and aspirin has been linked to it.

Antibiotics may be prescribed for mild to severe bacterial infections.

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Prevention Of Mesenteric Lymphadenitis

The following actions can reduce your risk of developing mesenteric lymphadenitis caused by an infection:

• Routinely wash your hands with soap and water.
• Staying away from someone unwell.

Since mesenteric lymphadenitis is caused by bacteria, you should take the following precautions when cooking to stop the bacteria from spreading:

• Wash your hands both before and after handling raw food.
• Keeping the areas where you cook sanitary.
• When preparing raw food, especially beef, it should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F.
• Separating meat and vegetable cutting boards and utensils.
• Avoid drinking untreated water, particularly that which has been drawn from ponds or lakes.

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