From the Guidelines
Mesenteric pediculosis is not a recognized medical condition in current medical literature, and the term does not represent a valid medical diagnosis. The term appears to be a combination of "mesenteric" (relating to the mesentery, a fold of tissue that attaches organs to the abdominal wall) and "pediculosis" (an infestation of lice). This combination does not represent a valid medical diagnosis, as pediculosis typically refers to lice infestations affecting the scalp (pediculosis capitis), body (pediculosis corporis), or pubic region (pediculosis pubis), but there is no established condition involving lice in the mesentery or abdominal cavity. The provided evidence [ 1 ] discusses Strongyloides stercoralis, an intestinal parasitic infection, but does not mention mesenteric pediculosis, further supporting the fact that it is not a recognized medical condition. If you're experiencing abdominal symptoms, it would be appropriate to consult with a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment, as lice are external parasites that live on the skin surface and in hair, not inside the abdominal cavity. Some key points to consider include:
- The absence of mesenteric pediculosis in medical literature
- The definition and typical presentations of pediculosis
- The importance of consulting a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment of abdominal symptoms
- The fact that lice are external parasites that do not live inside the abdominal cavity.
From the Research
Definition and Causes
- There is no direct evidence in the provided studies to define mesenteric pediculosis (infestation of the mesenteric area by lice) 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- The studies primarily focus on mesenteric panniculitis, a benign condition characterized by chronic inflammation and fibrosis of adipose tissue in the small bowel mesentery 3, 4, 5, 6.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
- Mesenteric panniculitis is commonly detected incidentally on cross-sectional imaging of the abdomen and can be asymptomatic in up to nearly half of patients 3, 4.
- The most frequent clinical symptoms reported are abdominal pain, bloating/distention, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, anorexia, weight loss, fever, malaise, and nausea 3, 4, 5, 6.
- Computed tomography (CT) is essential in the diagnosis of mesenteric panniculitis, showing a mass-like area of increased fat attenuation within the small bowel mesentery 3, 4.
Treatment and Management
- Treatment decisions for mesenteric panniculitis should be guided by the severity of symptoms and the presence of complications 3, 4, 6.
- First-line medical treatment includes prednisone and tamoxifen, while surgery is reserved for cases of recurrent bowel obstruction 3, 6.
- In cases of acute recurrent exacerbations of mesenteric panniculitis, immunosuppressive therapy may be necessary to manage symptoms 6.