Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2026
Video Imaging and Spatiotemporal Maps to Analyze Gastrointestinal Motility in Mice
Published on: February 3, 2016
Neurological symptoms in children with intussusception
K J Kleizen1, A Hunck, M H Wijnen
1Department of Paediatrics, Radboud University Medical Centre Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. k.kleizen@cukz.umcn.nl
Aim:
The classical combination of abdominal pain, vomiting, rectal blood loss and a palpable abdominal mass is only present in a minority of children with intussusception. Neurological signs and symptoms have been described, but are not a well understood phenomenon. We performed a retrospective study to ascertain the frequency and nature of these symptoms and to describe the characteristics of the patients presenting in this atypical way.
Methods:
The records of 58 children presenting with intussusception from 2003 to 2008 were reviewed for abdominal and neurological signs and symptoms, duration of symptoms and effectiveness of treatment.
Results:
In 10 out of 58 patients (17%), one or more neurological symptoms were recorded at presentation, with lethargy being the most frequent, followed by hypotonia and fluctuating consciousness. The patients with neurological abnormalities were significantly younger and presented with a shorter duration of symptoms. Therapy was more invasive, although not statistically significant, in this patient category.
Conclusion:
Intussusception should be considered in the differential diagnosis in young children presenting with lethargy, hypotonia and/or sudden alterations of consciousness even in the absence of the classical symptoms of intussusception.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Intestinal Obstruction I: Introduction
01:07Intestinal Obstruction II: Pathophysiology
01:30Irritable Bowel Syndrome II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Evaluation
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is classified into subtypes based on the predominant bowel habits as determined by the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS). The subtypes are:
01:17Irritable Bowel Syndrome I: Introduction
IBS is a chronic condition that can persist over a long period or recur frequently.
The pathogenesis of IBS involves a complex interplay of the following factors:
Altered...
01:23Irritable Bowel Syndrome
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by transmural...