Clinical Presentation (Intussusception)

Table of the symptoms and signs of an acute intussusception. They are arranged according to the disease process. Besides the prodromal affection early and late symptoms and signs are differentiated. More important than the list of the symptoms observed in acute invagination is the disease process and the significance of the single symptoms. The often observed prodromal affection may be an additional cause of intussusception, e.g. as in case of an enteritis, or can mask the recognition of the invagination developing thereafter. Abdomial pain and vomiting are relatively unspecific signs; the knowledge of the clinical presentation (hitherto healthy, well nourished infants beyond the first trimenon) and a palpable mass in the right abdomen (invagination tumor) permit a clinical diagnosis. Behind every ileus and/or peritonitis a invagination recognized too late may be hidden. The $$anus_02??££at the beginning§§ and $$anus_9??££ §§later presented leading symptom 'Blood in the stool or Melena' is often an intermediate symptom, which means it occurs between early and late symptoms and may be absent or occur at the beginning, too. An early diagnosis (= diagnosis on time) should not be established exclusively on the occurrence of melena.