Intussusception in Children 2 Years of Age or Older

The hospital records of 111 children aged 2 to 15 years who were treated for intussusception between mid-1974 and mid-1984 were reviewed. Severe intermittent abdominal pain was the most consistent, and frequently the only, clinical feature. Hydrostatic reduction was almost as successful as in children under 2 years of age, and its success was independent of the duration of symptoms. Most cases were idiopathic, but lead points were common in children 6 years of age or older. There was an unexpectedly high recurrence rate, 20%. In all three children with lymphoma the signs and symptoms were clearly atypical and were suggestive of pre-existing disease. In the absence of suspicious clinical or radiologic findings, laparotomy to rule out lymphoma is not warranted.