What Is Mesenteric Adenitis?
We are kept safe from disease by a system that has evolved over many millions of years. This system helps to defeat germs by sending out white blood cells and other guardians that help to tackle intruders head on. The immune system also helps with the ongoing maintenance and repair of our bodies.
As effective as this system is, however, it is not perfect and it cannot offer us complete protection from diseases. While it is supposed to help keep us safe from complications, the system can also develop some complications itself. One example of such a complication is Mesenteric Adenitis.
1. Lymph Nodes
Located in various parts of our bodies are small glands known as lymph nodes, and these make up a very important part of our immune system. The lymph nodes are a part of the lymphatic system. This system contains a type of fluid known as lymph which, among other things, helps transport pathogens to the lymph nodes.
The lymph nodes will then help to deal with the pathogens so they cannot cause us any harm. We don’t usually notice these nodes are there, but they can become swollen and sore sometimes when we are ill. If the lymph nodes do become inflamed, it is a condition known as lymphadenitis. Adenitis refers to inflammation of a gland, which includes lymph nodes.
2. Mesenteric Adenitis
The peritoneum is a membrane that lines the abdomen cavity, helping to protect the organs inside. The mesentery is a part of the peritoneum, and it helps to keep the organs in the abdominal cavity attached to the abdomen wall. This part of the abdomen structure also contains lymph glands that help to protect us against disease.
Mesenteric adenitis is a condition where these glands have become inflamed. Because these glands are a type of lymph gland specifically, the condition is also known as mesenteric lymphadenitis. The condition can cause a number of unwelcome symptoms, and there are various potential causes of it.
3. Causes
Viral infections are the most common cause of mesenteric adenitis. This tends to mean stomach flu, which is also known as gastroenteritis. With the lymph nodes in the mesentery being close to the infection, so that will cause these glands to be hard at work dealing with the unwelcome intruders.
Lymphoma, which is a variety of cancer involving white blood cells, is another potential cause of the condition. Some patients with inflammatory bowel disease will also go on to develop the condition. The condition can also sometimes be caused by a bacterial infection in the abdominal region.
4. Pain
Perhaps the most common symptom of mesenteric adenitis is pain. For many patients, the abdomen area will feel tender to the touch. The pain will tend to be located in the lower right area of the abdomen, and the pain will be quite sharp and severe in some cases.
The severity of the pain, and the location, means that mesenteric adenitis will sometimes be mistaken for appendicitis until tests are carried out. It should be noted that appendicitis has the potential to be extremely dangerous, so the patient should be taken to an emergency room if the condition is suspected.
5. Swollen Lymph Nodes
Inflammation of the lymph nodes will cause them to be swollen. In cases of mesenteric adenitis, the swellings will be located in the abdomen area. We won’t usually notice these glands even exist a lot of the time, but they can become very noticeable indeed when they become inflamed. They can become easy to feel, and even very noticeable visibly.
Swollen lymph nodes anywhere on the body are a sign that there is potentially an illness. While swollen lymph nodes are not dangerous in themselves, they can sometimes be caused by an underlying cause that can be serious. Thus, the symptoms should always be checked out.
6. Fever
The most common cause of mesenteric adenitis is an infection of some variety of pathogen, usually a virus. When there is an infection present, there will often also be a fever, and underlying causes of mesenteric adenitis are no exception. Thus, a fever is a symptom that many people with mesenteric adenitis will experience.
A fever is actually beneficial to us because it helps to slow down pathogens, or even kill them outright in some cases. It is usually just fine to leave a fever run as it is, but vulnerable patients should be monitored. Medication is available that will help reduce a high fever, while damp clothes on a forehead will also help bring the patient’s temperature down.
7. Other Symptoms
In addition to those symptoms mentioned, mesenteric adenitis will also sometimes cause other symptoms to occur. These can include nausea and vomiting, while some patients will also have diarrhea. Some will also have malaise, which is a general feeling of being unwell.
The conditions will also cause a loss of appetite in some patients, and this can contribute to them having a lack of energy. The patient can also feel tired regardless of how much rest they get. A higher than usual white blood cell count is another potential symptom of the condition, although blood tests will likely need to be taken to diagnose this condition.
8. Serious Symptoms
Mesenteric adenitis is not usually a serious condition, and the underlying cause is usually straightforward to treat. However, the patient should still be monitored and taken to a doctor of their symptoms become worse. This includes a particularly excruciating pain in the abdomen area.
The patient should also be found a doctor if they are vomiting excessively and/or if they have excessive diarrhea. A change in toilet habits should also prompt somebody to see a doctor, as should a persistent loss of appetite. These symptoms could easily be a sign of something serious so they should be treated as such.
9. Complications
Mesenteric adenitis will result in serious potentially serious complications in a small number of cases. One of these is dehydration caused by excessive vomiting and diarrhea. Also, an abscess can form in the abdomen. An abscess is a sac full of pus, and these can burst, potentially leaking toxins into the system.
Another potential complication is arthralgia, which is pain in the joints. Sepsis is another potential condition, which is caused by a strong response to an infection by the immune system. Another is peritonitis, which is an inflammation of the membrane that helps to protect the organs in the abdomen.
10. Treatment
The treatment for mesenteric adenitis will depend on the underlying cause of the condition, and the severity of the patient’s symptoms. In many cases, the underlying cause will only be mild and the patient will be able to make a full recovery with limited treatment, if any.
Antibiotics or antiviral medication may be used to help treat the more severe cases. Medications like ibuprofen can help to relieve pain, and aspirin should be avoided in children because of the risk of severe reactions. More intensive treatment will be required if the condition is caused by something like lymphoma.
