Early symptoms of intussusception in children

Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
Updated on January 28, 2025
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Intussusception in children refers to a segment of the intestine telescoping into the adjoining lumen, causing an obstruction to the passage of intestinal contents. Intussusception accounts for 15%-20% of intestinal obstructions and can be primary or secondary. Generally, primary intussusception is more common in infants and young children. Early symptoms may include bloating, abdominal pain, vomiting, possibly accompanied by bloody stools, and a palpable mass in the abdomen. Moreover, intussusception can occur in multiple locations, such as jejunum into jejunum, jejunum into ileum, ileum into ileum, ileum into cecum, ileum into colon, colon into colon, etc. Among these, ileo-cecal intussusception is the most common, while small intestine into small intestine and colon into colon are relatively rare.

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Written by He Zong Quan
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Can intestinal intussusception have bowel movements?

After the occurrence of intussusception, the patient's symptoms often manifest as those of intestinal obstruction, causing significant abdominal pain, cessation of gas and stool passage through the anus, and a palpable abdominal mass can be felt. Imaging studies can clearly indicate signs of intussusception. Once intussusception occurs, the patient stops passing stool, and symptoms such as vomiting and nausea also occur. Once diagnosed, it is crucial to treat promptly, including air enema reduction or surgical treatment, to promptly address the symptoms of intussusception, prevent the worsening of intestinal obstruction symptoms, and avoid severe complications such as intestinal necrosis, which can endanger the patient's life.

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Written by Quan Xiang Mei
Pediatrics
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How to treat intussusception in children?

Intussusception in children is a common surgical condition. The treatment approach depends on the severity of the child's clinical symptoms. If the intestines have not been telescoped for long, and the intestinal mucosa has not suffered ischemic necrosis, and if the clinical symptoms are mild, air enema can be used to relieve the intussusception without the need for surgery. However, if the clinical symptoms are severe and necrosis has been prolonged, meaning the intestinal mucosa has reached a state of ischemia and necrosis that is irreparable, surgical treatment in a surgical setting is definitely required. Whether surgery or air enema is needed should be decided based on the actual color ultrasound results and a comprehensive diagnosis by the clinician.

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Written by Zhang Peng
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Causes of Intussusception in the Elderly

Intussusception refers to an obstruction caused by one segment of the intestine entering an adjacent segment, which can occur at any age. In adults, over 85% of intussusception cases can be attributed to organic lesions, typically tumors, but also possibly due to polyps or diverticula in the intestines. Typical symptoms of intussusception may include abdominal pain, an abdominal mass, and jelly-like bloody stool. In adults, intussusception is generally treated surgically. The surgical approach often involves exploratory laparotomy, possibly involving intestinal resection and anastomosis. For the resected part, reinforced suturing is usually required. If a primary anastomosis cannot be tolerated, procedures such as creating a stoma or exteriorizing the intestine may be performed, awaiting stabilization of the condition before further treatment.

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Written by Sun Ming
General Surgery
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Can intussusception in the elderly be cured?

Intussusception in the elderly rarely heals on its own, and the likelihood of recovery without treatment is very small. This is because the causes of intestinal issues in the elderly are primarily benign, often due to cirrhosis or other reasons. Furthermore, intussusception may also occur due to tumors, which generally require surgical treatment. It is advised that if diagnosed with intussusception, it is best to undergo surgical treatment at a hospital to prevent recurrence. If it is due to a tumor, there is a risk of it becoming malignant and metastasizing.

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Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
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How many days will pneumatic reduction for intussusception take to recover?

The indications of successful reduction of intussusception by air enema treatment are as follows: First, after the removal of the tube, a large amount of foul-smelling mucousy bloody stool and yellow feces are expelled. Second, the patient quickly falls asleep, no longer cries, and ceases to vomit. Third, the abdomen is soft and flat, with no palpable mass as before. Fourth, after the enema reduction, 0.5-1 grams of activated charcoal is administered orally; if charcoal residue is expelled within six to eight hours, it indicates a successful reduction. However, even after successful reduction, it is necessary to remain under observation in the hospital for two to three days to monitor for any recurrence of the intussusception.