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Mesenteric Adenitis?

15 replies

JellySlice · 08/03/2019 08:49

16yo dd has been tentatively diagnosed with this, potentially caused by an asymptomatic UTI.

I am confused. We have plenty of experience with UTIs, and this is totally different.

She has been increasingly ill for nearly a week, and saw the GP yesterday.

Temperature up to 39.5, reduced by paracetamol/ibuprofen.

Increasing pain in left side (I worried about spleen). Mild if she's not moving, but very severe whenever she coughs/burps/yawns etc.

Very poor appetite. General malaise. Sweat-soaked PJs in the morning. Wants to be held, but cannot bear to be stroked.

Well hydrated, no urgency, no discomfort urinating.

GP says no swelling or tenderness around spleen, liver, kidneys, bowel.
Considered appendicitis, but no 'guarding' when he felt her belly, no vomiting, poo normal (taking into account how little she's eating). Considered ovarian cyst and endometriosis, but pain completely different to periods, also fever not associated with these.
Considered glandular fever, but glands in general not enlarged.

Urine sample suggests possible infection (white cells, nitrites?) so sending it for culture.

What's going on? Is MA simply a catch-all? Can you actually be so ill with a UTI, without any symptoms of one?

Am also confused that the GP has prescribed 3 days of nitrofurantoin for the possible UTI, but the leaflet says the course should be 7 days.

Any advice?

OP posts:
JellySlice · 08/03/2019 13:11

Anyone?

OP posts:
ChicCroissant · 08/03/2019 13:14

My DD was diagnosed with this at a much younger age, she was run down after a few viral infections (she did have trouble with urine infections as well tbh).

It was really painful! It is a section of muscle cramping, DD had regular paracetamol (interspersed with ibuprofen when really bad) and the GP recommended mint to help with the pain but she wasn't keen.

The 3 days of antibiotics are a standard procedure now for a UTI didn't work for me though and needed a second lot

crosser62 · 08/03/2019 13:22

My son had this aged 2.
Apparently mimics the symptoms of appendicitis but is not inflammatory.
It’s viral in origin, pain is severe, temperature and malaise.
No appetite but taking cold fluids.

The treatment is fluids, paracetamol and ibuprofen alternating doses.

My boy was admitted to hospital with this as if it had been appendicitis he may have needed surgery.
Each day he got better and better and after 3 days it had completely settled.

JellySlice · 08/03/2019 14:19

How long did it take for your dc to recover? Were there any after effects?

OP posts:
JellySlice · 08/03/2019 14:21

My dd won't touch mint in any form. Nor aniseed. Which is a problem for her as she has reflux and cannot bear any of the meds!

OP posts:
crosser62 · 08/03/2019 14:24

3 days total then absolutely fine, no after effects at all and has never had it since. He is 6 now.

crosser62 · 08/03/2019 14:28

mesentaric adonitis was described to me by an Alder Hey surgeon as tonsillitis in the abdomen. It’s just swollen lymph glands in the abdomen. Settles by itself with fluid and pain relief.
Luckily my child isn’t an “ill” child so
bounces back to normal very quickly.

JellySlice · 08/03/2019 14:45

The pain started for dd 6 days ago, and the fever started 5 days ago.

OP posts:
crosser62 · 08/03/2019 16:01

I suppose every kid is different and as she is considerably older, it may last longer.

So what is it you want? Are you planning on going back to gp? As it’s friday, what if symptoms worsen or persist over the weekend?
You could call 111.
But you don’t appear to be at all satisfied with what the dr has previously said. So what is your plan?

JellySlice · 08/03/2019 16:28

I think that the GP was very thorough. I'm not complaining. I'm just puzzled. As he also appeared to be.

If dd gets worse, of course I'll take her to OOH clinic. GP said to come back if she's no better by Monday, which is also when he expects to get the culture results.

Posters often consult the MN Second Opinion and get a new perspective, a suggestion of something else to ask the GP, a suggestion of a home treatment that can help the dc.

I've literally never seen dd so ill before.

OP posts:
crosser62 · 08/03/2019 16:31

That sounds like a good plan.
She is a wee mystery your girl isn’t she!

JellySlice · 11/03/2019 16:43

Going back to the GP tomorrow. DD is no better. The fever is slightly lower but the pain is worse. Sad

OP posts:
ChicCroissant · 11/03/2019 17:09

Sorry to hear that there has been no improvement, OP Sad Def time to take her back. It lasted a few weeks with my DD from what I remember, although she might have had a week's break before she went down with something else and it came back! I do think she was really run down after a series of viral/UTI's in her case.

I hope you can get something to help.

JellySlice · 11/03/2019 19:12

Weeks!?!? Oh my goodness! Was your dd able to go to school?

OP posts:
ChicCroissant · 11/03/2019 19:36

She did go to school, but I used to go in at lunchtime to administer another dose of Calpol! Once, I went in mid-morning with ibuprofen as well Blush She had missed quite a bit beforehand with the various infections and although she had pain, it would seem to be less than your daughters (she always wanted to go to school for instance).

I do wonder if she would have got over it a bit quicker if she'd rested tbh!

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