saudigastro.com/patients/intussusception
Category
Serious
Red flags
4
This article is educational and does not replace your doctor's advice. Seek urgent care for any red-flag symptoms.
What is it?
Intussusception (say "in-tuh-suh-SEP-shun") happens when one segment of the bowel slides into the part next to it, like a telescope folding in on itself. This blocks the passage of food and cuts down the blood supply to the bowel. If it is not treated quickly, the bowel can be damaged, and it can become life-threatening. It is most common in babies and young children, typically between about 3 months and 3 years of age. Early treatment is usually very successful.
How common is it?
It is one of the most common causes of bowel obstruction in infants and young children. It is uncommon in older children and rare in adults.
Why does it happen?
In many babies no cause is found. It may follow a recent viral infection of the gut or breathing passages that makes lymph glands in the bowel swell. Sometimes a lead point, such as a polyp, a Meckel diverticulum, or a bowel growth, triggers it, which is more likely in older children. It is not caused by anything the parents did.
Symptoms
- Sudden attacks of severe crying, with the baby drawing up the legs, that come and go every 15 to 20 minutes or so
- Pale, floppy or very sleepy between attacks
- Vomiting, which may later become green
- Blood and mucus in the stool, sometimes described as "redcurrant jelly" stool
- A swollen or tender belly, or a sausage-shaped lump felt by the doctor
- Fever and weakness in later stages
Red flags — seek urgent medical care
Bouts of severe, inconsolable crying with drawn-up legs
Could be intussusception. Go to the emergency department immediately; do not wait to see if it passes.
Blood in the stool or "redcurrant jelly" stool
A late and serious sign. Call emergency services or go to the emergency department now.
Green vomit
Suggests the bowel is blocked. This is an emergency.
A baby who is pale, floppy, very sleepy, or has a swollen belly or fever
Could mean serious bowel damage or shock. A baby who needs urgent care should be seen immediately.
How is it diagnosed?
The doctor examines your child and usually confirms the diagnosis with an abdominal ultrasound, which is quick and safe and uses no radiation. In an unwell child who may have bowel damage, the team may move straight to treatment or surgery. Blood tests and a drip for fluids are often started at the same time.
Outlook — what to expect
The outlook is very good when treated early. Most children recover completely, and the problem can recur in a minority, usually in the first days after treatment. Delayed treatment raises the risk of bowel damage and surgery to remove a damaged section.
Treatment
Habits & Lifestyle
This is an emergency condition; there is no home treatment.
- Go to the nearest emergency department straight away. If your child is very unwell, call emergency services.
- Do not give food, drink, or any medicine on the way, because your child may need an anaesthetic.
- Do not wait for bloody stool before seeking help; it is a late sign.
- After treatment, watch for the return of the same symptoms and return at once if they appear.
Diet
Your child will usually be kept nil by mouth at first.
- Feeding is stopped until the team says it is safe, and fluids are given through a drip.
- Once the bowel recovers, feeding is restarted gradually, often back to normal within a day or two.
- There is no special diet needed afterwards unless the team advises one.
Medications
Medicines support treatment but do not fix the problem.
- Fluids and pain relief are given through a drip.
- Antibiotics may be given if there is concern about bowel damage or infection.
- Do not give painkillers or any medicine at home before being seen. The doctor decides all medicines and doses.
Procedures & Surgery
Treatment is done in hospital and is often successful without an operation.
- An air or fluid enema, given through the bottom under X-ray or ultrasound guidance, often pushes the bowel back into place.
- Surgery is needed if the enema does not work, if the bowel has a hole (perforation), or if the child is very unwell.
- If a lead point such as a polyp is found, it may need to be treated separately.
- Your child will be watched in hospital for a period after treatment to check for recurrence.
Living with the condition
- Most children go home within a few days and return to normal life.
- If symptoms return, do not hesitate to go back to the emergency department.
Questions to ask your doctor
Save this list or print it before your appointment — doctors appreciate prepared patients.
- Why did this happen to my child, and could it come back?
- Was an operation needed, and what is the recovery like?
- Does my child need further tests to look for a cause?
- What symptoms mean we must return immediately?
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Status: Approved for publication by SGA; individual clinician review is ongoing · Published 24/04/2026
For general education only; it does not replace your doctor’s advice. Individual clinician review of this guide is ongoing. SGA clinician? Review this guide