Infant intussusception symptoms

Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
Updated on September 01, 2024
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Intussusception clinically presents with abdominal pain, which occurs in fits and starts and has a regular pattern. This manifests as sudden spasmodic colic; the child cries and is restless, drawing the knees up to the belly and turning pale. The pain lasts for several minutes or longer, then eases off, allowing the child to fall asleep quietly. These episodes recur every 10 to 20 minutes as intestinal movements provoke further attacks. Vomiting occurs, initially consisting of curdled milk or food residues and later containing bile-stained, feculent fluid. Moreover, blood in stools is an important symptom. Symptomatically, stools may appear normal for a few hours, but within six to twelve hours, 85% of affected children might pass jelly-like mucus blood stools. A palpable lump can be detected in the upper right abdomen, indicative of the point of intussusception. As for general symptoms, the child may appear well early on, but as the condition worsens, intestinal necrosis or peritonitis may occur, leading to severe dehydration, high fever, lethargy, coma, shock, and other signs of systemic toxicity.

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Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
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Can intussusception resolve itself automatically?

Some children with intussusception may resolve spontaneously, but it is important to closely monitor their condition with ultrasound to understand the status of the intussusception. If it does not resolve on its own in a short period, immediate surgical treatment is necessary. If the ultrasound shows successful resolution, or if the child's clinical symptoms such as vomiting and abdominal pain improve and the ultrasound does not reveal any obvious abnormalities, it is considered an automatic recovery.

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Pediatrics
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Infant intussusception symptoms

Intussusception clinically presents with abdominal pain, which occurs in fits and starts and has a regular pattern. This manifests as sudden spasmodic colic; the child cries and is restless, drawing the knees up to the belly and turning pale. The pain lasts for several minutes or longer, then eases off, allowing the child to fall asleep quietly. These episodes recur every 10 to 20 minutes as intestinal movements provoke further attacks. Vomiting occurs, initially consisting of curdled milk or food residues and later containing bile-stained, feculent fluid. Moreover, blood in stools is an important symptom. Symptomatically, stools may appear normal for a few hours, but within six to twelve hours, 85% of affected children might pass jelly-like mucus blood stools. A palpable lump can be detected in the upper right abdomen, indicative of the point of intussusception. As for general symptoms, the child may appear well early on, but as the condition worsens, intestinal necrosis or peritonitis may occur, leading to severe dehydration, high fever, lethargy, coma, shock, and other signs of systemic toxicity.

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Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
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Is intussusception in children serious?

Intussusception is a life-threatening emergency, and its reduction is an urgent treatment measure that should be performed immediately once diagnosed. In the early stages, the child generally appears healthy, with normal body temperature and no obvious symptoms of poisoning. However, as the condition progresses and the duration of the intussusception increases, it can lead to intestinal necrosis or peritonitis, causing a deterioration in the overall condition. Commonly, severe dehydration, high fever, coma, shock, and other serious symptoms of poisoning may occur.

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Written by Hu Qi Feng
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Does intussusception require a CT scan?

Intussusception is commonly diagnosed through routine abdominal ultrasound examinations, which have a positive rate of over 90%. In the ultrasound, the transverse section of the intussusception can show concentric circles or target ring-shaped mass images, and the longitudinal section may reveal the sleeve sign. Additionally, a barium enema can be employed, along with X-ray imaging. Under X-ray, the lead point of intussusception appears as a mass shadow, and air enema reduction treatment can be performed concurrently. Generally, CT is not used as a routine diagnostic tool.

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Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
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Is infant intussusception dangerous?

Intussusception is a life-threatening emergency, and its reduction is an urgent treatment measure that should be performed immediately once confirmed. It is a common acute abdomen disease in infants and young children. Initially, the general condition may be good, but as the disease progresses, the condition worsens, leading to systemic deterioration, complications such as intestinal necrosis or peritonitis, and severe symptoms of poisoning such as severe dehydration, high fever, lethargy, coma, and shock.