Intussusception is when one part of the intestine slides up into another part of the intestine. This creates a blockage and makes it hard for the intestines to work as they should.
The cause is not always known in most children. Rarely, it is triggered by a health problem, such as:
Intussusception is more common in children less than 12 months old. It is also more common in males. Other things that may raise the risk are:
Problems are:
You will be asked about your child's symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done. This is often enough to make the diagnosis.
Images may be taken of your child's belly to confirm the diagnosis. This may be done with ultrasound.
Intussusception is an emergency that must be treated right away to avoid severe problems. The goal of treatment is to unblock the intestine so that it can work the way it should. This may be done with:
There are no guidelines for preventing intussusception.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians
About Kids Health—The Hospital for Sick Children
Health Canada
Abdominal pain in infants. Healthy Children—American Academy of Pediatrics website. Available at: http://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/abdominal/Pages/Abdominal-Pains-in-Infants.aspx. Updated November 21, 2015. Accessed September 21, 2017.
Edwards EA, Pigg N, et al. Intussusception: past, present and future. Pediatr Radiol. 2017 Aug;47(9):1101-1108.
Intussusception. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/intussusception. Updated April 23, 2019. Accessed January 10, 2020.
Intussusception. Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/diseases-conditions/intussusception.html. Updated January 4, 2018. Accessed January 10, 2020.
Questions and answers about intussusception. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rotavirus/about-intussusception.html. Updated January 27, 2017. Accessed January 10, 2020.
Last reviewed September 2019 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Kari Kassir, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.