What Is The Diet For Mesenteric Lymphadenitis?

Mesenteric lymphadenitis is an infectious disease of lymph nodes which is characterized by the enlargement of lymph nodes present in the membrane that joins the small intestine with the abdominal wall. In this condition, three or lymph nodes present in this area swell and get inflamed due to infections by bacteria, virus and other organisms. It can affect any person at any age but children and young adults are prone to develop this disease. It usually happens after a respiratory infection like common cold or flu, stomach flu or consuming undercooked pork infected with Y. enterocolitica. It causes symptoms like pain in the right lower side of the stomach, fever, muscular pain, and many more.

Mesenteric lymphadenitis can be managed with modified diet, antibiotics, antivirals and painkillers.

The diet for mesenteric lymphadenitis includes-

Plenty Of Fluids– Having right kind of dit can help or hurt mesenteric lymphadenitis. It is very necessary to drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration caused due to mesenteric lymphadenitis. If you are unable to take a large amount of fluid at a time, you can opt for frequent sips of fluids. Your water intake and urine output should be proportionate. Urine should be light colored and clear. If it is dark in spite of good intake of fluids, you should consult your physician. The main reason behind this is that dehydration is marked by infrequent excretion of dark urine.

Easy To Digest Foods– Eating foods that are easily digestable is very important diet tip for mesenteric lymphadenitis. It is advisable to consume digestive foods when you have mesenteric lymphadenitis, like toast, gelatin, bananas, soda crackers, boiled vegetables, boiled potato rice and chicken. You should opt for healthy options and avoid spicy, highly seasoned junk food. If you feel nausea, then you should stop that food.

Avoidance of Milk Products– It is better to avoid milk and milk products for a couple of days when you are suffering from mesenteric lymphadenitis so as to rest the stomach as these products may upset the stomach.

Avoidance of Alcohol, Caffeine, Nicotine – alcohol, caffeine and nicotine should be avoided for few days to allow the healing of the abdomen.

Avoidance of Fatty Food– it is better to avoid fatty food for a couple of days to get cured of mesenteric lymphadenitis quickly.

Mesenteric lymphadenitis is an inflammatory disease of lymph nodes present in the mesentery. This condition is also known as lymphadenitis. The mesentery is a membrane that connects the small intestine with the abdominal wall. It affects three or more lymph nodes at a time. Lymph nodes are small organs that are bean-shaped and comprises of white blood cells. Lymph nodes play an important role to maintain the immune system. Any bacteria or virus that enters the body is filtered by lymph nodes.

Mesenteric lymphadenitis commonly affects children or young adults. However, it can happen to anyone at any age.

Mesenteric lymphadenitis usually occurs after an infection that can be a common cold, stomach flu or after eating infected pork. Lymph nodes of abdomen combat against any foreign organism entering the body to protect the abdomen. These organisms can be virus, bacteria, parasites, etc. they are blocked by the lymph nodes to invade the abdomen. This defense mechanism strengthens the immune system and leads to the swelling of the lymph nodes.

The swollen lymph nodes render pain in their location in the abdomen. The pain is usually located in the right abdomen in the lower side with fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and weight loss. The mesenteric lymphadenitis pain can extend to other parts of the belly, often confused with appendicitis, Crohn’s disease and pancreatitis.

Conclusion

Mesenteric lymphadenitis is an infectious condition of lymph nodes of the mesentery marked by right side pain in the lower abdomen. It usually affects children and young adolescents. It can be managed by slight modification in the diet as it upsets the stomach. The diet includes consumption of lots of fluids, easy to digest foods, and cessation of dairy products, alcohol, caffeine and fatty spicy food.

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What Is The Diet For Mesenteric Lymphadenitis?