Mesenteric Lymphadenitis on Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Pediatric Patients With Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis: A Case Series

Abstract

Abdominal pain is a common complaint in pediatric patients with Group A streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis. Etiology of abdominal pain from GAS infections are unknown. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is often used by pediatric emergency medicine physicians to evaluate children with abdominal pain. We describe 12 pediatric patients who presented to our Pediatric Emergency Department with symptoms suggestive of acute pharyngitis and abdominal pain, tested positive for GAS pharyngitis, and were found to have mesenteric lymphadenitis (mLAD) on POCUS. Findings on POCUS suggest that abdominal pain in GAS pharyngitis patients may be caused by mLAD. Further studies are warranted to validate this association.