How is intussusception diagnosed?

Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
Updated on March 01, 2025
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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.

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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 Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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Early symptoms of intussusception in children

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
General Surgery
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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.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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Symptoms of intussusception in babies

Intussusception in infants initially manifests as vomiting, including the contents of the stomach and sometimes even a coffee-colored liquid. Subsequently, the infant may appear inconsolably fussy and experience abdominal pain, which is communicated through crying, as infants are unable to speak. Additionally, the stool may appear like jam or contain pus and blood, which is due to bleeding from the intestinal mucosa and intestinal tubes. Upon observing these symptoms, it is crucial to seek medical attention promptly and conduct further examinations at a hospital, such as an abdominal ultrasound and an upright abdominal X-ray, to confirm the diagnosis.

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Written by Quan Xiang Mei
Pediatrics
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Is intestinal intussusception easy to treat?

Intussusception is a common pediatric surgical condition in infancy and early childhood. It is characterized clinically by abdominal distension, abdominal pain, and the passage of jelly-like stools. Mild cases of intussusception can usually be treated in a clinical setting with an air enema under surgical guidance. However, severe intussusception, which has led to ischemia or necrosis of the intestinal mucosa, must be treated surgically. Therefore, the treatment of intussusception is not difficult, but it is crucial to avoid misdiagnosis. With timely diagnosis, the condition is relatively easy to manage with the best and most appropriate treatment, where diagnosis is the most critical aspect.