Mesenteric Adenitis - flare up vitally?

[katem98]

Hi all,

Last year June/ July my DS, 4 at the time, was in and out of hospital for around 10 days and diagnosed eventually with Mesenteric Adenitis.

The consultant told us that it's likely he'll experience more severe abdominal pains when having viral infections in the future. GP seemed to not agree or disagree with this statement.

Since starting year 1 in Sept this year he's been off a couple of times with infections. Whether it be sickness and diarrhoea, covid or just a 24h bug. Almost always with these bouts of illnesses he'd have a flare up of abdominal pain even when experiencing just cold like symptoms. Never severe enough to warrant a trip to the GP but severe enough to not send him to school.

Has anyone or their relatives suffered with Mesenteric Adenitis and also experienced complications for a while after when being exposed to viral illnesses?

Any experiences would be great.

TIA

Hi. My DD has Mesenteric Adenitis flare ups every time she gets a virus but hers tend to start a day or two before the symptoms of the virus, so we know somethings coming, and then it clears up as the virus goes. The first time she had it was with covid and I put it down to that.

The second time was with a gastric illness and she was admitted to hospital and they diagnosed the pain as MA. Occasionally she can get a cold and not have the MA flare up but unfortunately mostly it occurs and it has been not good for her school attendance! But as you probably know there is not much that can be done. Apparently they grow out of it by 16! I find ibuprofen helps but paracetamol doesn't do anything. It's hard, you have my sympathy!

Hi @ladyflower23 Thanks for your reply. Absolutely everything you've said is the same with us and very relatable! What did you do in terms of school attendance? School has started to be on our backs about it but like you say, it cannot be helped and I don't feel comfortable as a Mum sending him to school when he's uncomfortable! We tend to have a day off with MA and then off again with whichever viral illness he gets!

Also not sure why 'Vitally' has appeared in the title

Well it's tricky with school because I'm not sure it's on her medical record that she has this. I can't remember seeing the MA mentioned on the discharge letter so I've never mentioned it to school in case they ask for proof.

I had a letter from the head when her attendance went below 95% saying we were being 'monitored' but luckily we were going into summer and her attendance improved again.

She's had 4 days off with it so far this winter so will have to see what happens. If needs must I will have to go to GP and see what they say. Just worry they will insist on doing loads of tests even though I've previously been told what it is. It's annoying because I didn't realise at the time it was something that was going to occur every time she gets sick! Did you get anything from the hospital confirming diagnosis to show to the school?

You just can't send them in when they are having an occurrence. It makes my DD really tired, she can't sleep properly or eat and sometimes can't even stand up straight so she just can't go in.

Ha ha I was confused about what the vitally meant 😂

@ladyflower23 Really similar situation with us re the schools actually. And no, same as you - I requested his copy notes with discharge summaries from summer last year when he ended up in A&E with the pains and nothing mentioned GA even though 2 consultants had confirmed the diagnosis!
I think the same as you, I'll have to go back to GP if we need confirmation of the illness. Such a nightmare we have to prove ourselves when they're our children!
My DS is the same, really struggles with sleep and then becomes exhausted with it. It really stresses me out when he starts complaining of abdominal pains!

Me too! The words 'mummy my tummy hurts' makes my blood run cold 😂

My daughter grew out of it at about 12, despite a couple of bad doses of tonsillitis later on.
I think with a flare up a child would be so miserable in school they would try to send them home. (I'm not in the UK, there's a lot more leeway here).