Anyone know anything about mesenteric adenitis?!
Question:
Anyone know anything about mesenteric adenitis?
my son keeps getting recurrent infections in his tonsils/chest/throat etc, but complains of severe stomach ache on every occasion. i thought it might be appendicitis but drs say thats all ok. they mentioned something called mesenteric adenitis, saying that it was the glands in his stomach reacting to the infection, thus causing the pain. was just wondering if anyine knew anything more about it, as im really worried for him. this has been going on for 6 months now, and hes been off school these past 3 weeks with the latest bout.
Answers:
Mesenteric adenitis is an inflammation of the mesenteric lymph nodes in the abdomen. If it occurs in the right lower quadrant, it can easily be mistaken for acute appendicitis.
The frequent association of this condition, especially in children with upper respiratory tract infection, has popularized a theory that swallowed pathogen-laden sputum may be the primary source of infection.
an ultrasound or laporotomy can accurately diagnose causes, and treatment can then be correctly proscribed.
because of the inability to exclude apendicitis in some cases as a possible cause, sometimes an apendectomy can be performed in view of the tendency for recurrence of lymphadenitis and the difficulty in differentiating adenitis from appendicitis.