Intussusception is an intestinal obstruction caused by a segment of the intestinal tube and its corresponding mesentery snapping into the adjacent intestinal lumen. It occurs most frequently in infants aged 4 to 10 months, and decreases with age after 2 years.
The cause of intussusception] Most of the intussusceptions cannot be found with a definite cause. Dietary changes, diarrhea, constipation, intestinal viral infections, etc. may be triggering factors. Some recurrent intussusceptions may be closely related to some primary diseases such as intestinal polyps, Meckel’s diverticulum, lymphoma, etc.
Clinical manifestations of intussusception】 The three most important symptoms in children with intussusception are: paroxysmal crying, vomiting and jam-like bloody stools.
After the intestinal tube is trapped, it produces more serious abdominal pain, which the infant cannot tell, often manifesting as sudden and violent crying and restlessness, accompanied by the movement of hands and feet, pale face, etc. After a short pause in crying and restlessness, it happens again, and so on. Due to intestinal obstruction, the child often vomits in combination. After a few hours, the child may pass jam-like blood stool, which is due to the bleeding and necrosis of the intestinal mucosa caused by the impaired blood circulation in the intestinal canal during intussusception.
In children with intussusception, not all three clinical manifestations may be present. In some children with atypical symptoms, abdominal ultrasonography is feasible and can help in the diagnosis. Remember, paroxysmal crying and restlessness are usually the earliest symptoms of intussusception. If your baby has this symptom, you should go to a specialist hospital for examination, early detection and timely treatment.
The treatment of intussusception is mainly surgical and non-surgical.
Non-surgical treatment is mainly air enema, it is under the supervision of X-ray fluoroscopy, through the enema, the air is injected into the colon through the catheter inserted into the anus of the child, and gradually increase the pressure, so that the intestinal tube of intussusception gradually reset under the air thrust. This operation is usually safe, but in rare cases it may be combined with colonic perforation and require emergency surgery. The reset rate of air enema can reach more than 90%, which allows most children to avoid open surgery. Therefore, parents must pay attention to the doctor’s judgment and timely cooperation with the doctor’s examination, if intussusception for a long time, may lead to intestinal ischemic necrosis, easy to delay the opportunity of air enema treatment.
Prevention】 1, should avoid diarrhea, especially autumn diarrhea.
2, usually pay attention to scientific feeding, do not be too hungry and too full, change food at will, add complementary food should be gradual.
3.We should pay attention to weather changes, add and remove clothes at any time, and avoid various undesirable factors that can easily induce intestinal motility disorders.
4, if a healthy infant suddenly appears unexplained paroxysmal crying, vomiting, blood in the stool, should think about the possibility of intussusception.