Diagnostic dilemma in childhood intussusception presenting with encephalopathy

Abstract

Intussusception is the telescoping of one bowel segment into another. Usually, children below 1 year of age experience this condition and have classical symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, and bleeding per rectum. However, unusual clinical presentations, especially in older children, may deceptively mislead the diagnosis, particularly in the absence of the classical symptoms. We report a case of an 11-year-old male child who presented with seizures, altered sensorium, and nonbilious vomiting. During the emergency surgery, he was diagnosed with an ileoileal intussusception with proximal gut perforation and peritonitis. He had a speedy recovery from neurological symptoms after the surgical intervention.