Intussusception; Symptoms, Causes, Risk Factors, Complications, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Intussusception is a condition that occurs mostly in infants. Although few adults and older children experience it as well, its prevalence in infants is much more than it is in older children and adults. According to research, most cases of infant intussusception are more in infant boys than in infant girls. It is a condition that is characterized by the folding of the intestine into itself, just the same way the segments of a telescope fold into themselves. The result of this fold is the blockage of the intestine, and this can be painful, especially for infants who cannot express how they feel about pains. The question now is, how do you as a mother notice when your child has intussusception? What are the manifestations to look out for? What could be the feasible cause of this condition, and how can it be rectified? All these questions shall be dealt with in this article.

Intussusception causes swelling in the abdomen, causes pain, and can trigger nausea and vomiting. When one component of the intestine telescopes into another segment(which in most cases, always occurs in adjacent segments) of the intestine, it drags along with its nerves and vessels, thus causing a swell in the abdomen, which leads to the blockage of the intestine, such that food and fluid cannot pass freely through the intestine, also there will be a reduction in the gush of blood to that part of the body. When this happens, the intestines become infected, and in most cases, the death of the bowel tissues can occur. Studies found that intussusception occurs where the small intestine connects with the large intestine.

Being a rare condition in adults, the cause of intussusception in adults could be a result of an underlying health condition. However, in older children and infants, the cause is always unknown, but this does not mean it cannot be treated. Rectifying this intestinal fold in infants involves the returning of the intestine to its original place through different procedures. But in adults, the underlying illness that leads to intussusception has to be dealt with first, then surgery can be carried out to correct the problem.

This article is packed with all that you should know about this condition, ranging from what causes it to detecting it and treating it.

Causes and Risk Factors of Intussusception

As stated above, the cause of intussusception in infants and children younger than 2 is unknown, while in adults, it could be a result of an underlying condition like tumors. However, some factors can expose an individual more to intussusception. With these conditions in place, there is a higher chance that intussusception may occur. These conditions are the risk factors of intussusception.

The most common risk factors in adults include;

Surgery: Sometimes, surgeries (especially gastric bypass) carried out in the intestine can lead to intussusception. Thus, when adults undergo this process, they may experience intussusception later in the future.

Tumor: Tumour is an underlying condition that can result in intussusception in adults.

Intestinal inflammation: Diseases that cause inflammation in the intestine can also poise as a risk factor for intussusception in adults. Some of the most distinguishing diseases that can lead to intussusception in adults include Crohn’s disease and celiac disease.

Growths in the intestine: Growths such as scar tissues in the intestine can cause a blockage in the intestine, causing one segment of the intestine to telescope into an adjacent segment.

Factors that can expose infants and young children to intussusception include;

Birth defect: Some children are born with defects, and those in which intussusception occurs mostly are children who had an intestinal defect at birth. This could be a result of either a poorly developed intestine or a wrong turning off the intestine. In medical representations, it is referred to as intestinal malrotation. When this birth defect occurs, infants are most likely to have intussusception.

Sex: In infants especially, intussusception has been mostly associated with boys than with girls. According to research, it is possible to have 10 infants with intussusception, and up to 7 of them will be boys.

Family history: Infants who have older siblings that suffered from intussusception at birth might experience intussusception as well. Also, in some cases, if one of the parents of the infant suffered intussusception at birth, then it is possible for their infants to suffer the same.

Recurrence: This occurs mostly in older children and adults. If these groups of people experience intussusception at birth, it may recur in the future when they grow much older.

Symptoms of Intussusception

According to medical experts, the symptoms of intussusception in both adults and children are not sudden. Although it comes with severe abdominal pain, this pain does not linger. It comes and goes, with a 20-minute interval in between.

In Adults

Asides from the symptoms of abdominal pain, there are no other specific symptoms in adults, and this makes it difficult to diagnose. Coupled with the abdominal pain, the adult may experience nausea and vomiting. Since this pain comes and goes, though severe, they might not take it seriously, thereby leaving it untreated for a long time. This eventually leads to complications.

In Infants and Older Children

Identifying intussusception in infants can be difficult as they cannot describe how they feel. However, there are some signs to look out for. These signs are pointers to help you detect intussusception in your infant.

• The first thing to notice is the bodily reaction of the child. If the child cries heavily. While holding his or her knees to the chest, then you should suspect intussusception. This is because the child is trying to reduce the pain, hence the holding of the knees to the chest.
• Some other symptoms that may follow this are nausea and vomiting. This is a result of the blockage of the intestine from foods and fluids passing freely. Also, there may be swellings and pain in the abdomen.
• Since the pain is not constant, it comes and goes. The child might stop crying for a while and probably go back to playing but start crying heavily again when the pain comes back.

When you notice any of these symptoms, take your child for medical inspection, as she or he might have intussusception. Do not wait until the following begin to occur;

• Fever
• Diarrhea
• Bloody stool
• Weakness and constant fatigue
• Nodes or swelling that you can easily feel in the abdomen

Complications of Intussusception

When intussusception is left untreated for a long time, the tissues in the bowels die, and the intestinal wall tears. When this occurs, infections set in within the intestinal lining. This infection of the intestinal lining and abdominal cavity is called peritonitis.

Peritonitis is a severe health condition that can threaten your life. Thus, when this occurs, it is best to seek medical help, as your intussusception has become complicated. Ways through which you can identify this complication include;

• Pain and swelling of the abdomen
• Severe fever
• Nausea and vomiting

Diagnosis of Intussusception

Ultrasound: This concerns the use of sound waves to detect if the individual has intussusception.

X-ray: Abdominal x-ray is another method through which a blockage or obstruction can be noticed in an individual.

Enema (fluid or air): This method can help straighten out or correct the folds in the intestine. In addition, it is also a method through which intussusception can be detected. This diagnosis is carried out when a tube is passed through the rectum to the intestine, then soft fluid or air is passed through the tube to check for blockages and obstructions.

Treatment of Intussusception

Sometimes, mild intussusception might not require that the patient undergoes surgery. This is because the process of diagnosis using an enema can remedy it if it is not a complicated or severe intussusception. However, in cases where an enema does not do the trick, surgery is advised. Although, an enema can puncture the intestinal wall and will even be a terrible procedure if the walls are already ruptured. However, surgery is safer as the infected or ruptured parts can be removed.

After the surgery, the patient is placed under close supervision as there is a higher possibility that the intussusception might recur. During this process of supervision and examination, the patient is not allowed to eat anything. Pain killers will be administered later by the doctor. Also, when it is time for the patient to start eating, only clear fluids are advised then as time goes on, such patients can begin to take solid foods.

Conclusion

Intussusception occurs mostly in infants, but few adults and older children may experience it too if they are exposed to its risk factors. It is a condition that cannot be treated at home. Thus, the need to consult a medical expert when any symptom is noticed.