The New England Journal of Medicine: Recurrent Intussusception Associated with Hypertrophy of Peyer's Patches
INTUSSUSCEPTION is considered by most clinicians to be one of the most important acute abdominal conditions occurring in infancy and childhood. This is attested to by the voluminous literature that ...
Intussusception (in-tuh-suh-SEP-shun) is a serious condition in which part of the intestine slides into another part, much like a telescope. This telescoping action often blocks food or fluid from passing through.
Intussusception is a medical emergency and form of bowel obstruction in which one segment of intestine telescopes inside of another. Although it can affect anyone, it’s most common in children between 3 months and 3 years old.
A study reported that in actuality, only a minority of children with intussusception had stools that could be described as "red currant jelly", and hence intussusception should be considered in the differential diagnosis of children passing any type of bloody stool.
Intussusception is defined as the invagination of one segment of the bowel into an immediately adjacent segment. The intussusceptum refers to the proximal segment that invaginates into the distal segment, or the intussuscipiens (recipient segment).
Intussusception is a life-threatening illness and occurs when a portion of the intestine folds like a telescope, with one segment slipping inside another segment. This causes an obstruction, preventing the passage of food that is being digested through the intestine.
Intussusception is the most common cause of intestinal obstruction in children. It can also affect adults. Learn about this condition, symptoms, and treatments.