What is the main cause of intussusception?

What is the main cause of intussusception?

In adults, intussusception is usually the result of a medical condition or procedure, including: A polyp or tumor. Scar-like tissue in the intestine (adhesions) Weight-loss surgery (gastric bypass) or other surgery on the intestinal tract.

What age group is intussusception?

Intussusception typically presents between 6 and 36 months of age, and is the most common cause of intestinal obstruction in this age group. Approximately 60 percent of children with intussusception are younger than one year old, and 80 to 90 percent are younger than two years [5].

How do you diagnose intussusception?

To confirm the diagnosis, your doctor may order: Ultrasound or other abdominal imaging. An ultrasound, X-ray or computerized tomography (CT) scan may reveal intestinal obstruction caused by intussusception. Imaging will typically show a “bull’s-eye,” representing the intestine coiled within the intestine.

Can a 6 year old get intussusception?

Intussusception is the most common cause of intestinal obstruction in children who are between 3 months and 6 years old. Boys are affected four times as often as girls.

How is intussusception treated in toddlers?

Treatment. Intussusception is not usually immediately life-threatening. It can be treated with either a water-soluble contrast enema or an air-contrast enema, which both confirms the diagnosis of an intussusception, and in most cases successfully reduces it.

How do I know if my child has intussusception?

Doctors usually check for intussusception if a child keeps having periods of pain, drawing up the legs, vomiting, feeling drowsy, or poop with blood and mucus. During the visit, the doctor will: do an exam, paying special attention to the belly, which may be swollen or tender to the touch.

Can a person live without intestines?

Most people can live without a stomach or large intestine, but it is harder to live without a small intestine. When all or most of the small intestine has to be removed or stops working, nutrients must be put directly into the blood stream (intravenous or IV) in liquid form.

What does a dead stomach mean?

Intestinal ischemia is a serious condition that can cause pain and make it difficult for your intestines to work properly. In severe cases, loss of blood flow to the intestines can damage intestinal tissue and possibly lead to death.

How do I know if my child has a bowel obstruction?

What are the symptoms?

• Cramping and belly pain that comes and goes. The pain can occur around or below the belly button.
• Vomiting.
• Bloating and a large, hard belly.
• Constipation and a lack of gas, if the intestine is completely blocked.
• Diarrhea, if the intestine is partly blocked.

What is intussusception of the small intestine?

Intussusception is a condition in which part of the intestine folds into itself, much like a collapsible telescope. Usually, the last part of the small intestine, called the ileum, folds into the first part of large intestine, called the cecum. How common is intussusception?

What is intussusception and why is it dangerous?

Intussusception also cuts off the blood supply to the part of the intestine that’s affected. This can lead to a tear in the bowel (perforation), infection and death of bowel tissue. Intussusception is the most common cause of intestinal obstruction in children younger than 3 years old.

What are the symptoms of intussusception in older children?

Some older children have pain but no other symptoms. Because intussusception is rare in adults and symptoms of the disorder often overlap with the symptoms of other disorders, it’s more challenging to identify. The most common symptom is abdominal pain that comes and goes. Nausea and vomiting may also occur.

What causes intestinal obstruction in children?

The most common cause of intestinal obstruction in children under the age of 3 is a painful condition called intussusception. It occurs when one part of the intestine slides into the section next to it.