What is intussusception?
The intestine is a hollow tube, like a hose. In intussusception, a part of the intestine suddenly slides inside another part. The sliding blocks your intestine and stops blood flow.
Intussusception usually happens in children between 6 months and 3 years old.
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In most cases, doctors don't know the cause of intussusception
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Your child may have belly pain and throwing up that starts suddenly then comes and goes, each time lasting about 15 to 20 minutes, then returns to normal
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Later, your child's stool may be bloody
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Doctors use an air enema to find intussusception and also to treat it
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Some children need surgery
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Sometimes the intestine returns to normal without treatment
If the intussusception doesn’t return to normal, and blood flow is blocked for more than a few hours, part of the intestine may die, and small holes may develop. The holes let bacteria enter the belly area and can cause a serious infection.
What causes intussusception?
Doctors don't know what causes intussusception in young children, but it’s the most common cause of intestinal blockage in children ages 6 months to 3 years.
When older children have intussusception, it's usually caused by a problem in the intestine, such as a polyp (small mass) or tumor.
Children with cystic fibrosis are more likely to get intussusception.
