Intussusception is the invagination of a segment of bowel into an adjacent segment resulting into an intestinal obstruction. It is the most common acquired cause of intestinal obstruction in children aged four months to two years with a peak of incidence between four and nine months of age. Etiology of intussusception is reported to be idiopathic in about 90% of cases and rarely is it associated with pathological lead points such as Meckel's diverticulum, appendix, solid bowel lesions, intestinal polyp, and intestinal lymphoma. It is an occlusive-strangulation type of intestinal obstruction, and all necessary measures should be taken early to ensure prompt diagnosis and treatment to avoid ischaemia and necrosis of bowel. The term comes from two Latin words, intus, which means inside and suscipere, which means to receive. It has been reported in neonates and adults . The ancient Greeks, treated intestinal obstruction with enema or insufflations of air into the anus. Abdominal pain, vomiting and blood in stools are the classic triad and are uncommon and seen in less than one-third of the children affected. Cases often present with non-specific symptoms, including vomiting, pain, irritability, decreased appetite and lethargy, and this may render diagnosis of intussusception difficult. Abdominal ultrasound is considered the standard choice for its diagnosis. Non-surgical management with Pneumatic reduction (PR) by air, hydrostatic reduction by saline or contrast enema is the best procedure.Surgical management by exploratory laparotomy with simple reduction while some cases may require a bowel resection and reanastomosis for gangrenous bowel.
Intussusception remains a common cause of bowel obstruction in children and results in significant morbidity and mortality if not promptly treated. There is a paucity of prospective studies regarding childhood intussusception. This study describes the seasonal variation and management outcomes of childhood intussusception