How is intussusception in infants caused?

Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
Updated on January 10, 2025
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Intussusception is divided into primary and secondary types, with 95% being primary, commonly seen in infants. This is due to the fact that the mesentery at the ileocecal region in infants is not fully fixed and has greater mobility, which are structural factors that facilitate intussusception. For the 5% of secondary cases, these are more common in older children, whose intestines often have clear organic causes for intussusception. These causes include the inversion of a Meckel's diverticulum into the ileal lumen serving as a lead point; intestinal polyps, intestinal tumors, intestinal duplications, and abdominal purpura can cause thickening and swelling of the bowel wall leading to intussusception. Additionally, certain facilitating factors can disrupt the rhythm of intestinal peristalsis, thereby inducing intussusception. Changes in diet, viral infections, and diarrhea are among the factors that can trigger intussusception.

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Written by Quan Xiang Mei
Pediatrics
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Does intussusception cause diarrhea?

Intussusception is a common surgical condition in infants and young children, characterized primarily by symptoms such as abdominal pain, crying, abdominal distension, the passage of jelly-like stools, and vomiting. Some children may also experience diarrhea and frequent passage of jelly-like stools, where the symptoms of intussusception may not be particularly noticeable, leading parents to possibly overlook them. Therefore, if a child has diarrhea accompanied by jelly-like stools, it is crucial to take the child to the hospital for a consultation and an ultrasound to confirm whether it is caused by intussusception. If left untreated for a long time, it can lead to ischemic necrosis of the intestinal mucosa, necessitating surgical treatment.

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Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
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Can intussusception in children cause fever?

In the early stages of intussusception, the child generally remains in good condition, with normal body temperature and no symptoms of systemic poisoning. As the disease progresses and worsens, complications such as intestinal necrosis or peritonitis may develop, leading to deterioration of the overall condition. At this point, severe dehydration, high fever, lethargy, coma, and shock, among other symptoms of poisoning, can occur. Therefore, fever can indeed appear in the later stages of intussusception.

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Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
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Is infant intussusception dangerous?

Intussusception is a life-threatening emergency, and its reduction is an urgent treatment measure that should be performed immediately once confirmed. It is a common acute abdomen disease in infants and young children. Initially, the general condition may be good, but as the disease progresses, the condition worsens, leading to systemic deterioration, complications such as intestinal necrosis or peritonitis, and severe symptoms of poisoning such as severe dehydration, high fever, lethargy, coma, and shock.

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Written by He Zong Quan
General Surgery
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Can intussusception pass gas?

Intussusception should be considered when the patient shows symptoms of intestinal obstruction, namely pain, vomiting, distension, and paralysis, along with cessation of gas and stool passing through the anus. In the early stages of intussusception, there may be a small amount of gas and stool passage, but the presence of intussusception should not be overlooked, and imaging studies can be performed for confirmation. If there is a fluid level in the intestinal lumen and clear signs of intestinal obstruction, and if the patient can feel a distinct mass in the abdomen, which on imaging shows concentric ring-like changes, intussusception should be considered. Once diagnosed, timely treatment is essential, thus treatment should not be delayed until there is an absence of stool and gas passage.

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Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
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Caused by infantile intussusception

Intussusception is divided into primary and secondary types, with 95% being primary cases, most commonly seen in infants and young children. This is due to the fact that the mesentery of the ileocecal part in infants and young children is not yet fully fixed and has a greater degree of mobility, which are structural factors that facilitate the occurrence of intussusception. The remaining 5% are secondary cases generally occurring in older children, where the affected intestines often have a clear organic cause, such as a Meckel's diverticulum turning into the ileal lumen, serving as the starting point for intussusception. Other causes like intestinal polyps, tumors, duplications, or abdominal purpura can cause the intestinal wall to swell and thicken, which can also trigger intussusception.