How to Care for Your Child with Intussusception
This leaflet will provide you with information about Intussusception causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and home care advice.
What is intussusception?
- Intussusception happens when a segment of the intestine slides into the lumen of another segment, which could cause blockage of the intestine.
- It commonly occurs in children aged between 3 months and five years.
What are the symptoms of intussusception?
- The child could have one or more of the following symptoms:
- Severe abdominal pain. Younger children may look very irritable during this episode and cry loudly.
- Vomiting
- Bloody stool or stool that appears like jelly mixed with mucous
- Excessive tiredness and sleepiness.
How is intussusception diagnosed?
- The doctor will ask a few questions about your child’s health and examine your child.
- The doctor may request an x-ray and Ultrasound scan of your child's abdomen and /or blood test.
How is intussusception treated?
- There are few treatment options:
- Keeping your child fasting and maintaining hydration with Intravenous fluid.
- Giving your child pain relief medicine intravenously (through needle or tube inserted into a vein).
- Giving your child enema: A doctor will insert a small soft tube containing liquid or air in the rectum. This will help to resolve the sliding of the intestines.
- Surgery may be required in case of enema failure.
- Small intestines intussusception usually resolves itself. Most patients don’t need admission.
When should I seek medical advice?
- Seek medical advice if your child experiences:
- Unexplained excessive crying
- Continuous vomiting
- Blood or blood mixed with mucous in stool.
- Excessive tiredness and sleepiness.
Home care advice:
- Give Pain relief medicine to your child as advised by your doctor.
- If your child usually takes solid food you can start to introduce solid food gradually to your child at home.
- Ensure your child get adequate rest.
- Intussusception may happen again; seek medical advice if your child develops any of the above symptoms, this can be treated in the same way as before.