Intussusception is the telescoping of one part of the intestine into another, causing a blockage. Intussusception commonly occurs in children between the ages of 5 and 9 months It is two to four times more common in boys than girls and affects 2 in 1,000 children. Intussusception can often be cured by the administration of a barium enema by a radiologist. If this fails, surgical repair is required, since the passage of stool through the intestine is blocked at the site of intussusception.
Abdominal Symptoms
A child with intussusception has abdominal pain that can be mistaken at first for colic; most small children with abdominal pain draw their knees up to their chest. The child may strain as if trying to have a bowel movement, or cry loudly. Pain comes and goes, so the child may have periods lasting 10 to 15 in which he acts normally between bouts of pain, the Mayo Clinic states. Each time the pain returns, it is more intense, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Vomiting may occur shortly after the symptoms first begin. A mass may be felt on the right side of the abdomen.
Bowel Symptoms
Children with intussusception may have diarrhea, or may pass bloody stools, called currant jelly stools for their appearance. When symptoms first begin, the child may pass one normal stool, if there was stool in the intestine below the level of the obstruction, but the next stool will be bloody, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia explains.
Other Symptoms
Fatigue, lethargy and paleness may occur in a child with intussusception between episodes. He may sweat, run a fever and become dehydrated. The pressure of the two sections of intestine causes decreased blood flow, swelling and inflammation in the intestine. The intestine can perforate, or develop a hole, spilling stool into the abdominal cavity. The intestine may bleed or become infected, a dangerous complication known as peritonitis, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia states. Shock may occur if any of these complications occur; symptoms of shock include rapid heart rate, rapid and shallow breathing, collapse and coma. Shock requires immediate medical attention.
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