Key takeaways: Intussusception happens when part of the intestine telescopes into the next part, blocking it. It’s most common between about 6 months and 3 years. Signs include sudden episodes of severe crying with legs pulled up, vomiting, unusual sleepiness, and later, stool mixed with blood and mucus. It’s an emergency, and early treatment often fixes it without surgery.
Intussusception is uncommon but serious. Knowing the signs can help your baby get care fast.
What It Is
One part of the bowel slides into the next, like a telescope. This blocks food and can cut off blood supply to the bowel.
Who Gets It
- Most often babies and toddlers between about 6 months and 3 years.
- Often no clear cause; sometimes follows a viral infection.
- Rotavirus vaccines carry a small increased risk of intussusception, mostly in the week after the first dose. The CDC says the benefits of the vaccine far outweigh this small risk.
From the author
From First Breath to First Birthday is my month-by-month guide to your baby’s first year, written as a NICU and postpartum nurse. My book covers common first-year illnesses and the warning signs that mean it’s time to call the doctor, explained the way I’d explain them at the bedside.
Warning Signs
- Sudden, severe belly pain: your baby cries hard, pulls legs up to the chest, then may seem fine between episodes. Episodes often come every 15 to 20 minutes.
- Vomiting, sometimes green.
- Unusual sleepiness or weakness between episodes.
- Stool mixed with blood and mucus, sometimes described as “currant jelly.” This often appears later.
- A swollen belly.
Not every baby has all the signs.
Diagnosis and Treatment
- Ultrasound is the usual test.
- Enema: an air or liquid enema, guided by imaging, can often push the bowel back into place.
- Surgery is needed if the enema doesn’t work or the bowel is damaged.
Why Speed Matters
Early treatment lowers the risk of bowel damage and the need for surgery.
Go to the emergency room right away if your baby: has episodes of severe crying with legs drawn up, vomiting (especially green), bloody or jelly-like stool, or is unusually sleepy. Call 911 if your baby is unresponsive.
The Bottom Line
Intussusception is an emergency. Sudden bouts of severe pain, vomiting, sleepiness, or bloody stool need immediate care.
Want more support for your baby’s first year? My book, From First Breath to First Birthday, is available on Amazon.
Related Articles
- Blood in Baby’s Stool
- Mucus in Baby’s Stool
- Pyloric Stenosis: Projectile Vomiting in Young Babies
- Vomiting in Babies: When to Worry
Sources
- American Academy of Pediatrics. Intussusception. HealthyChildren.org. https://www.healthychildren.org
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rotavirus vaccine safety. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety
- National Library of Medicine. Intussusception – children. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Always talk with your baby’s health care provider or your own provider about your specific situation. If you think your baby or you may have a medical emergency, call 911.
