Iodine content of food.

Abstract

This was not an individual habit and had not been present before the onset of this illness. The only other physical signs were in the abdomen, where there was slight general distension and a characteristic tumour palpable in the left iliac fossa. Rectal examination was normal.Laparotomy was performed that evening, and an easily reducible caecocolic intussusception was found, which, owing to partial spontaneous reduction, was in the left hypochondrium. Numerous enlarged lymph nodes were found in the mesentery, and histological examination of one of these showed reactive hyperplasia. The child made an uneventful recovery.The position adopted by this child clearly relieved his pain, and in view of the anatomy in this particular case it would seem likely that the child was unconsciously using gravity in an attempt to reduce the intussusception. This sign does not feature in textbooks and is obviously unusual. It was not encountered in any of 67 cases described in clinical detail by Kark and Rundle.' However, although unusual, the sign is a dramatic one and should alert one -to the diagnosis at a glance if its significance is appreciated.