Curriculum · Pediatric / Nutrition & Growth / EPI / Routine Child Examination
Intussusception
What it is
Intussusception is the invagination, or telescoping, of one proximal segment of the intestine into another distal one, most commonly the ileum passing into the caecum through the ileocecal valve, that is at the ileocecal junction. It is the commonest cause of intestinal obstruction in infants after the neonatal period, and one of the most common causes of bowel obstruction in children alongside incarcerated hernias. The age is given as a peak between 3 months and 2 years, as 6 months to 2 years, and as 6 months to 36 months.
Causes and risk
About 75% of cases are idiopathic, with no identifiable cause. The pathological lead points are Meckel diverticulum, which is the most common lead point in children, intestinal polyps or tumors, which are common in adults and the second most common cause in general, enlarged Peyer patches, often seen with recent viral infections or vaccinations such as rotavirus and adenovirus, and bowel wall thickening as in IgA vasculitis. An abnormal lead point is looked for in children over 2 years.