Typical symptoms of intussusception in children

Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
Updated on February 13, 2025
00:00
00:00

The typical symptoms of intussusception include abdominal pain, which initially presents as sudden, severe, crampy pain. The affected child may cry, appear restless, draw their knees up to their stomach, and have a pale complexion. The pain may last several minutes or longer and then relieve, with repetitions every ten to twenty minutes. The second symptom is vomiting, which is an early symptom that initially may include curdled milk and food residues, and later may contain bile or fecal matter. The third symptom is bloody stools, where approximately 85% of affected children may pass jelly-like mucus and blood within six to twelve hours of onset. An abdominal mass is often found in the upper right abdomen, and a sausage-shaped mass that is slightly movable upon touch can be felt beneath the ribs. Regarding the overall condition of the child, they may be able to attend school in the early stages without showing signs of toxicity. As the condition progresses, complications such as bowel necrosis or peritonitis can develop, leading to worsening systemic symptoms, including severe dehydration, high fever, drowsiness, coma, or shock.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by He Zong Quan
General Surgery
47sec home-news-image

Intussusception earliest symptoms

The earliest symptoms of intussusception are primarily abdominal symptoms, including mild abdominal distension, abdominal pain, with pain mainly around the navel. This pain generally does not show significant relief and tends to intensify. There may also be cessation of passing gas and stool, and the patient might sometimes experience nausea and vomiting. If the symptoms of intussusception do not alleviate, we carry out an abdominal imaging examination, which may reveal fluid levels, indicating intestinal obstruction, and the intussuscepted bowel can be found. At this point, early air enema reduction can be performed. If the condition is not treated timely, it can lead to aggravated symptoms of intestinal obstruction, and even require surgical treatment.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
36sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Quan Xiang Mei
Pediatrics
53sec home-news-image

Pediatric intussusception clinical manifestations

Intussusception often occurs in infants and young children. The symptoms of intussusception in infants and young children primarily include abdominal pain, crying, and vomiting as the main clinical manifestations. Frequent vomiting, abdominal distension, and abdominal pain are symptoms, with children exhibiting sudden abdominal distension, sudden abdominal pain, and sudden sharp screams. The most typical symptom of intussusception is the excretion of jelly-like stool, which resembles tomato sauce or jelly. These are common clinical presentations of intussusception in children. Some children who are less neurologically sensitive may only show symptoms of lethargy, mild vomiting, diarrhea, and the passing of jelly-like stool.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
33sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
56sec home-news-image

How is intussusception diagnosed?

Intussusception is one of the common acute abdominal conditions in infants and young children. The primary clinical symptoms include abdominal pain, vomiting, and "jam-like" stools, with a mass often palpable in the abdomen. Initially, the overall condition of the child is generally fine, but in the later stages, symptoms such as dehydration, lethargy, coma, and shock can appear. Any healthy infant or young child who suddenly experiences episodic abdominal pain or periodic, regular bouts of crying, accompanied by vomiting, bloody stools, and a sausage-shaped mass in the abdomen, should be highly suspected of having intussusception. Once intussusception is confirmed, timely enema treatment should be administered to the child, and if the opportunity for an enema has passed, surgical treatment should be considered.