Some conditions are more common among children than they are among adults, and mesenteric adenitis is one of those conditions. Children and teens are most susceptible to this condition that is often caused by a virus or bacteria in the stomach.

Read on to learn more about it from our AFC Urgent Care Farragut team.

What Is Mesenteric Adenitis?

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

Mesenteric adenitis can cause stomach pain and discomfort, but it usually isn’t cause for serious concern, as it typically clears up on its own in one to four weeks. We’ve listed the most common symptoms below.

Common Mesenteric Adenitis Symptoms

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

Can Mesenteric Adenitis Cause Serious Complications?

As we said earlier, it’s highly unlikely. However, there are some very rare cases in which it can cause serious complications that we’ve listed in the section below.

Despite these rare occurrences, mesenteric adenitis won’t cause long-lasting medical issues.

Rare Complications Caused By Mesenteric Adenitis

• Abscess, which is a pocket of pus in the abdomen
• Dehydration, due to severe diarrhea or vomiting
• Joint pain called arthralgia
• Peritonitis, a rare condition that causes inflammation of the membrane that surrounds the outside of the organs in the abdomen
• Sepsis, which is a result of an infection causing systemic inflammatory response syndrome

Is your child feeling less than his or her best? If so, don’t hesitate to visit our AFC center today. We can provide the quality non-emergency care you need—no appointment required!