Just Another Case of Diarrhea and Vomiting?

Chronic intussusception is a treatable cause of failure to thrive. It is an uncommon condition often diagnosed late. The presenting features differ from acute intussusception. Chronic intussusception presents with a varying combination of abdominal pain, vomiting, weight loss/failure to thrive, diarrhea, and blood per rectum. An abdominal mass may or may not be palpable. The classic triad of abdominal pain, vomiting, and blood per rectum is uncommon. The purpose of this report is to present a small series of 3 cases and review 19 previously reported cases of chronic intussusception. Considering the diagnosis of chronic intussusception in children who present with failure to thrive and recurrent nonspecific abdominal symptoms is emphasized.