Mesenteric lymphadenitis

Diagnosis

To properly diagnose mesenteric lymphadenitis, the healthcare provider will perform the following:

• Physical examination: During the medical evaluation, the healthcare provider will conduct a physical examination and obtain a detailed medical history of the patient. They will also inquire about the symptoms, including the duration and whether the patient has recently been sick.
• Blood tests: If a child is sick, blood tests will be recommended to assist the healthcare provider in identifying what type of infection the patient has.
• Imaging studies: Mesenteric lymphadenitis is frequently diagnosed by an abdominal ultrasonography. The child’s abdomen may also be subjected to a CT scan. This will also help rule out appendicitis.

Treatment

Mesenteric lymphadenitis in children commonly improves on its own in one to four weeks without any kind of treatment. The disease has no long-term consequences.

Although mesenteric lymphadenitis resolves on its own, the healthcare provider may recommend medicine to treat any symptoms. They will recommend antibiotics if the diagnosis of the child is due to a bacterial infection. Consider giving the child over-the-counter medicines such acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen for treating fever or pain in of the child. Antibiotics will be prescribed if the bacterial infection had become moderate to severe.

It is important to exercise caution when giving aspirin to children or teenagers. Although it is considered safe for children over the age of three, aspirin should never be administered to children or adolescents who are recovering from flu or chickenpox. This is because aspirin has been linked to Reye’s syndrome in such cases, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition.