Mesenteric adenitis is a fairly common stomach condition among teens and children that many may not be familiar with. Although it has a somewhat scary-sounding name, it won’t cause any serious medical symptoms.

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

What Is Mesenteric Adenitis?

Mesenteric adenitis (also known as mesenteric lymphadenitis) is the swelling of the lymph nodes in the abdomen. Anyone at any age can get it, but as we said earlier, it’s most common among children and teens.

Mesenteric adenitis is most often caused by a viral or bacterial intestinal infection, which causes the lymph nodes to swell, causing stomach pain and tenderness as they try to prevent the infection from spreading to the rest of the body. We’ve listed its most common symptoms below.

Common Mesenteric Adenitis Symptoms

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

Is Mesenteric Adenitis Serious?

Not typically. Even though the signs of mesenteric adenitis frequently resemble those of appendicitis, they are not as severe.

Mesenteric adenitis symptoms usually only last for a few days to a few weeks, and since the cause is usually a virus, it will need to run its course before it goes away on its own. If you or your child exhibits any of the warning signs and symptoms we’ve described here, come to our AFC facility to get the care necessary to feel better!

When to See a Doctor

• Episodes of sudden, severe abdominal pain
• Episodes of abdominal pain with fever
• Episodes of abdominal pain with diarrhea or vomiting

Do you think you or your child may be experiencing mesenteric adenitis or some other non-emergency medical issue? If so, don’t hesitate to visit our AFC Urgent Care Louisville team. We’re here for your family seven days a week.