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Risk factors
By Mayo Clinic staffRisk factors for intussusception include:
- Age. Children are much more likely to develop intussusception than adults are. It's the most common cause of bowel obstruction in children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years.
- Sex. Intussusception more often affects boys.
- Abnormal intestinal formation at birth. A condition present at birth (congenital) in which the intestine doesn't develop correctly (malrotation) also is a risk factor for intussusception.
- A prior history of intussusception. Once you've had intussusception, you're at increased risk to develop it again.
- AIDS. There is some evidence of an increased incidence of intussusception in people with acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
References
- Kitigawa S, et al. Intussusception in children. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Oct. 25, 2012.
- Hodin RA, et al. Small bowel obstruction: Causes and management. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Oct. 25, 2012.
- Pepper VK, et al. Diagnosis and management of pediatric appendicitis, intussusception, and Meckel diverticulum. Surgical Clinics of North America. 2012;92:505.
- Lindor RA, et al. Adult intussusception: Presentation, management, and outcomes of 148 patients. The Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2012;43:1.
- AskMayoExpert. Intussusception. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2012.
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