Skip to main content
Log in

Course of acute nonspecific mesenteric lymphadenitis: single-center experience

  • Short Communication
  • Published:
European Journal of Pediatrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Available reports dealing with acute nonspecific mesenteric lymphadenitis do not address the total duration of symptoms. However, it is commonly assumed a time for recovery ≤ 4 weeks. The purpose of this report was to investigate the course of acute nonspecific mesenteric lymphadenitis in childhood. A review was made of the patients aged ≤ 16 years in whom the diagnosis of acute nonspecific mesenteric lymphadenitis was established between 2011 and 2015 at the Pediatric Emergency Unit. The records of the Pediatric Emergency Unit, those of the referring family doctors, and the results of a structured telephone interview with each family were used. Forty-four patients (25 girls and 19 boys) aged 2.5 to 16, median 8.2, years were included. A bimodal distribution in duration of symptoms was observed: symptoms persisted for ≤ 2 weeks in 22 patients and 3 to 10 weeks in 22. Clinical and laboratory characteristics were similar in children with symptoms persisting for 2 weeks or less 28 and in those with symptoms persisting for 3–10 weeks.

Conclusion: In patients affected with acute nonspecific mesenteric lymphadenitis, it is advantageous to think of the time span for recovery in terms of ≥ 4 weeks.

What is Known:

• Mesenteric adenitis is a self-limiting inflammatory condition with well-characterized clinical presentation and imaging features.

• A total duration of symptoms of ≤ 4 weeks is usually hypothesized.

What is New:

• Symptoms persist for 3 to 10 weeks in half of the patients.

• At presentation, clinical and laboratory characteristics are similar in children with symptoms persisting for 2 weeks or less and in those with 45 symptoms persisting for 3–10 weeks.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

References

  1. Blattner RJ (1969) Acute mesenteric lymphadenitis. J Pediatr 74:479–481

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Gilmore OJ, Browett JP, Griffin PH, Ross IK, Brodribb AJ, Cooke TJ, Higgs MJ, Williamson RC (1975) Appendicitis and mimicking conditions. A prospective study. Lancet 306:421–424

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Helbling R, Conficconi E, Wyttenbach M, Benetti C, Simonetti GD, Bianchetti MG, Hamitaga F, Lava SA, Fossali EF, Milani GP (2017) Acute nonspecific mesenteric lymphadenitis: more than “no need for surgery”. Biomed Res Int 2017:9784565

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Gross I, Siedner-Weintraub Y, Stibbe S, Rekhtman D, Weiss D, Simanovsky N, Arbell D, Hashavya S (2017) Characteristics of mesenteric lymphadenitis in comparison with those of acute appendicitis in children. Eur J Pediatr 176:199–205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Vayner N, Coret A, Polliack G, Weiss B, Hertz M (2003) Mesenteric lymphadenopathy in children examined by US for chronic and/or recurrent abdominal pain. Pediatr Radiol 33:864–867

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Karmazyn B, Werner EA, Rejaie B, Applegate KE (2005) Mesenteric lymph nodes in children: what is normal? Pediatr Radiol 35:774–777

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Simanovsky N, Hiller N (2007) Importance of sonographic detection of enlarged abdominal lymph nodes in children. J Ultrasound Med 26:581–584

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Grimwood K, Forbes DA (2009) Acute and persistent diarrhea. Pediatr Clin N Am 56:1343–1361

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Conrad MA, Rosh JR (2017) Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease. Pediatr Clin N Am 64:577–591

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Krille L, Zeeb H, Jahnen A, Mildenberger P, Seidenbusch M, Schneider K, Weisser G, Hammer G, Scholz P, Blettner M (2012) Computed tomographies and cancer risk in children: a literature overview of CT practices, risk estimations and an epidemiologic cohort study proposal. Radiat Environ Biophys 51:103–111

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Manson D (2004) Contemporary imaging of the child with abdominal pain or distress. Paediatr Child Health 9:93–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Scholer SJ, Pituch K, Orr DP, Dittus RS (1996) Clinical outcomes of children with acute abdominal pain. Pediatrics 98:680–685

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr. Alec Villa for his assistance in the linguistic revision.

Funding

This work was supported in part by the Fondazione E. Balli and the Swiss Research Network of Clinical Pediatric Hubs. Dr. Gregorio P. Milani is the current recipient of research grants from the Fondazione G. & D. de Marchi ONLUS.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

Concept of the manuscript: F.H., M.W., S.A.G.L., G.P.M., M.G.B., G.D.S and R.H.; Data acquisition: C.B, E.C., M.W. and R.H.; Data analysis: C.B., E.C., G.P.M., S.A.G.L. and M.G.B; Drafting of the manuscript: C.B, M.W., S.A.G.L. and G.P.M.; Critical revision of the manuscript: F.H., S.A.G.L., G.P.M. and G.D.S; Final manuscript: C.B, S.A.G.L., G.P.M., M.G.B. and R.H.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mario G. Bianchetti.

Ethics declarations

The study has been performed in accordance with the ethical standards as laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Communicated by Peter de Winter

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Benetti, C., Conficconi, E., Hamitaga, F. et al. Course of acute nonspecific mesenteric lymphadenitis: single-center experience. Eur J Pediatr 177, 243–246 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-017-3010-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-017-3010-0

Keywords

Navigation