Background
Intussusception remains a common cause of bowel obstruction in children and results in significant morbidity and mortality if not promptly treated. There is a paucity of prospective studies regarding childhood intussusception. This study describes the seasonal variation and management outcomes of childhood intussusception.
Methods
This was a prospective study of all patients aged less than 12 years admitted and treated for childhood intussusception from January 2014 to December 2018 conducted in El-Minia University Pediatric Surgery Unit. Data about the ages of the patients, sex, clinical presentation, duration of symptoms before presentation, mode of treatment, outcome of treatment, and incidence of recurrence were recorded and analyzed.
Results
A total of 470 patients were studied. The male to female ratio was 2.3 : 1. The median age was 6 months. In all, 82.3% of patients were less than 1 year. Etiology was mainly idiopathic in 95.1% of cases. The classic triad of bloody stool, vomiting, and abdominal distention/abdominal colic was found in (58%) of patients. The diagnosis of intussusception was by clinical examination and ultrasonography in all cases. Treatment was either pneumatic reduction or operative.
Conclusion
Intussception is the most common cause of intestinal obstruction in infants and toddlers mostly aged below 1 year, so the authors recommend increasing the knowledge about intussusception among physicians and parents especially in the first year of life and in spring.