INTUSSUSCEPTION

SYMPTOMS

• Children

Infants with intussusception may feel severe abdominal pain. They pull their knees to their chest while crying aloud. The pain repeatedly happens at fifteen to twenty minutes intervals.

Additional signs and symptoms of intussusception include:

• Stool combined with blood and mucus 
• Vomiting
• A lump in the abdomen
• Weakness or lack of energy
• Diarrhea

Some infants and children have obvious pain but without other symptoms.

• Adults

Since intussusception is rare in adults, it is difficult to identify the symptoms and signs. The most common symptoms are abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, which happens repeatedly.

It is essential to seek medical help if you or your child develop the signs and symptoms listed above.

DIAGNOSIS

To diagnose the intussusception disorder, your doctor will review the symptoms and conduct a physical examination such as pressing on the abdomen to feel the lump, tenderness, and other factors.

The following imaging tests are used for diagnosis:

• Abdominal X-ray. It reveals blockage in the intestine.
• Upper gastrointestinal (GI) series or barium swallow. It relies on a liquid that improves the clear and detailed image of the upper GI on an X-ray.
• Lower GI series or barium enema. It is inserted into the rectum to have a clear view X-ray image of the lower part of the small intestine.
• Ultrasound. It uses computers and soundwaves to detect tissue and circulation problems.

TREATMENT

In some cases, intussusception goes away without treatment. However, intussusception is commonly considered a medical emergency. Treatment options for this include:

• Air enema or a water-soluble contrast. 

This procedure can fix 90% of the time in children, and if it works, further treatment is no longer needed.

• Surgery

If the first procedure is unsuccessful, this procedure is necessary. It is the primary treatment option for adults.