Paediatric intussusception in Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract

Intussusception is one of the leading causes of intestinal obstruction in children. This study reports our experience in the management of intussusception in Benin
City,Nigeria. This was a 10-year retrospective review of intussusception in children at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital from January, 1997 to December, 2006.
Twenty four children were admitted with intussusception (M: F = 1:1.4) within the period. Only three patients (12.5%) presented within 24 hours of onset of illness. Ten (41.6%) presented between one and four days; seven (29.2%) between five and10 days, while four (16.6%) presented between 11and14 days. Abdominal pain, irritability, blood in stools, vomiting, abdominal distension and palpablemass in various combinations were the clinical
features. All the patients, except one (4%), were below the age of one year.
There was much delay before presentation of infantswith intussusception,with high attendantmortality.

Keywords: paediatric, intussusception.

African Journal of Paediatric Surgery Vol. 4 (1) 2007: pp. 12-15