What are the symptoms of intussusception in children?

Intussusception in children is a common disease. Clinically, intussusception in children can be divided into several types, such as paroxysmal crying, vomiting and abdominal mass. Intussusception in children is the most common. Although this disease is not a serious disease, if it is not treated for a long time, it is easy to aggravate the condition and lead to intussusception in children. What should I do if intussusception in children has blood in the stool? It affects the patient's life and work. The following experts will introduce the symptoms of intussusception in children in detail:

Pediatric intussusception is divided into infantile intussusception (under 2 years old) and childhood intussusception, and the former is more common in clinical practice.

1. Infant intussusception is mostly primary intussusception, and the symptoms are as follows:

(1) Paroxysmal crying and fussing: It is common for previously healthy and obese infants to suddenly develop paroxysmal and regular crying and fussing that lasts for about 10 to 20 minutes, accompanied by restless movements of the hands and feet, pale complexion, refusal to eat, and abnormal expressions of pain, followed by temporary silence of 5 to 10 minutes or longer, which repeats itself. This kind of paroxysmal crying coincides with the intervals between intestinal peristalsis. As intestinal peristalsis pushes the intussuscepted intestinal segment forward, the mesentery is pulled, and the intussusception sheath undergoes strong contraction, causing severe pain. When the peristaltic wave passes, the child becomes quiet. In the late stage of intussusception combined with intestinal necrosis and peritonitis, the child becomes listless and has poor response. For some children with weak constitutions, or suffering from diseases such as enteritis and dysentery, the crying is not obvious, but they are irritable and restless.

(2) Vomiting: Initially, the vomiting is milk, milk curds or other food, which later turns into bile-like substances. After 1 to 2 days, it turns into foul-smelling intestinal contents, indicating that the condition is serious.

(3) Abdominal mass: Check the abdomen between two crying episodes. A sausage-like, slightly movable, and slightly tender mass may be felt under the liver in the right upper abdomen. There is usually a feeling of emptiness in the right lower abdomen. The mass may move along the colon. In severe cases, a cervix-like mass may be felt in the rectum during digital rectal examination, which is the head of the intussusception.

(4) Jam-like bloody stools: More than 80% of infants with intussusception have bloody stools. Parents often see their children for treatment with bloody stools as the primary symptom. Most children experience bloody stools 6 to 12 hours after onset, and some even 3 to 4 hours after onset. The bloody stools are thin mucus or jelly-like jam-colored, and may be discharged again after several hours. The reason for bloody stools is that when intussusception occurs, the mesentery is embedded in the intestinal wall, causing blood circulation disorders and causing mucosal bleeding and edema that mix with intestinal mucus to form a dark purple jelly-like liquid.

(5) Digital rectal examination: It has important clinical value. Although some children who come to the clinic at an early age do not have bloody stools, digital rectal examination can reveal mucus and blood in the rectum, which is extremely valuable for diagnosing intussusception.

(6) General condition: It varies depending on the time of consultation. In the early stage, except for pale complexion and irritability, the nutritional status is good. Children in the late stage may suffer from dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, mental depression, drowsiness, and slow reaction. When intestinal necrosis occurs, there are symptoms of peritonitis and toxic shock may appear.

2. The clinical symptoms of intussusception in children are atypical compared with those in infants. The onset is relatively slow, often manifesting as incomplete intestinal obstruction, and intestinal necrosis occurs relatively late. Children also have paroxysmal abdominal pain, but the intervals between attacks are longer than those in infants, and vomiting is less common. According to statistics, only about 40% of children with intussusception experience bloody stools, and the bloody stools often appear a few days after the intussusception, or there is only a small amount of blood on the finger cuff during digital rectal examination. When children are more cooperative, a sausage-shaped mass can often be felt during abdominal examination. Severe dehydration and shock are rare.

The above is the expert’s introduction to the symptoms of intussusception in young children. From this, everyone should have some understanding of what to do if young children have bloody stools due to intussusception. I hope it will help everyone treat the disease. Experts point out that intussusception in young children is very harmful to patients, and everyone should pay more attention to their own health.