Intussusception: Home Treatment

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Home Treatment

If your child has symptoms of intussusception, home treatment is not appropriate. Take the child to your health professional immediately for a physical exam. If your child has episodes of severe abdominal pain, you may need to take him or her for emergency evaluation.

If your child has had an enema to correct intussusception, watch for signs that the intussusception has recurred. The symptoms may be the same as those from the first episode, which generally include irritability, recurring abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea or irregular stools that may contain blood and mucus, and a swollen or tender abdomen.

If your child has had surgery for intussusception, talk with your health professional about your child's care. Usually after this surgery, parents need to:

• Check for signs of complications of surgery, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or a high fever that does not decrease with home treatment. For more information about fever in children, see the topic Fever, Age 3 and Younger, or Fever, Age 4 and Older.
• Take care of the child's abdominal incision. It may need to be cleaned regularly and checked for signs of infection (such as redness, warmth, pain, or swelling).

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Last updated:	August 22, 2006
Author:	Debby Golonka, MPH
Reviewed By:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics, Brad W. Warner, MD - Pediatric Surgery
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Terrina Vail