Mesenteric lymphadenitis

Overview

Lymphadenitis is a condition in which the small round or bean-shaped clusters of cells, called lymph nodes, become swollen and inflamed. The swelling can affect the lymph nodes in the membrane that connects the bowel to the wall around the stomach area, called the mesentery. Then the condition is called mesenteric lymphadenitis (mez-un-TER-ik lim-fad-uh-NIE-tis).

An infection in the intestines, such as a virus, is the usual cause of mesenteric lymphadenitis. Also called mesenteric adenitis, the condition mainly affects children and teens.

Mesenteric lymphadenitis can act like appendicitis or a condition in which part of the intestine slides into another part of the intestine, called intussusception. Unlike appendicitis or intussusception, mesenteric lymphadenitis usually clears up on its own.

Symptoms

Possible symptoms of mesenteric lymphadenitis include:

• Pain in the stomach area, often on the lower right side, but the pain can be more spread out.
• General tenderness of the stomach area.
• Fever.
• Enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes.

Depending on what's causing the condition, symptoms also might include:

• Diarrhea.
• Nausea and vomiting.

When to see a doctor

Pain in the stomach area is common in children and teens. So it can be hard to know when to seek medical advice.

Call a health care provider right away for a child who has:

• Sudden, severe pain in the stomach area.
• Stomach area pain with fever.
• Stomach area pain with diarrhea or vomiting.
• Tenderness to touch of the stomach area.
• Bloody or maroon-colored stool.

Also, call a health care provider for a child who has pain in the stomach area that doesn't get better in a short time and who also:

• Has a change in bowel habits.
• Has a loss of appetite.
• Is not able to sleep.

Causes

The most common cause of mesenteric lymphadenitis is a viral infection, such as gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis is often called stomach flu. This infection causes swelling in the lymph nodes in the thin tissue that attaches the intestine to the back of the wall around the stomach area, called mesentery.

Other causes of mesenteric lymphadenitis include bacterial infection, inflammatory bowel disease and lymphoma.