Clinical aspects of mesenteric adenitis

1. 1. Mesenteric adenitis is, in most cases, a non-specific inflammatory infection of the mesenteric nodes from a nearby or distant focus of infection, occurring most commonly in children during seasonal epidemics of upper respiratory infections, and strongly suggests appendicitis. 2. 2. The symptom complex of mesenteric adenitis is not pathognomonic, yet can be suspected by a thorough analysis and a finer interpretation of the order and quality of symptoms which differ from appendicitis. 3. 3. Exploration is both excusable and indicated when the abdominal pain is associated with mild or no constitutional reaction. Operation is contraindicated when the patient is acutely ill and the nasopharyngeal mucosa and the ear drums are deeply injected. Appendectomy either cures or helps in the retrogression of pathologic nodes. In most cases, the hyperemia induced by exploration exerts a beneficial effect upon the enlarged nodes. 4. 4. Biopsy is always a scientific asset, and there is no contraindication to its performance, except in suppurating nodes.