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Last updated: 02/17/2009
About 95% of all cases of intussusception occur in children. Children under two years of age are most likely to be affected by the condition; the average age at diagnosis is seven to eight months. Among children, the rate of intussusception is one...
to four per 1000. Conversely,
only two to three adults out of every 1,000,000 are diagnosed with intussusception each year. Intussusception is more likely to affect males than females in all age groups. Among children, the male: female ratio is 3:2; in persons over the age of four, the male:female ratio is 8:1.
As of 2003, racial or ethnic differences do not appear to affect the occurrence of intussusception.
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Intussusception is a condition in which one portion of the intestine "telescopes" into or folds itself inside another portion. The term comes from two Latin words, intus, which means "inside" and suscipere, which means "to receive." The outer "receiving" portion of an intussusception is called the intussuscipiens; the part that has been received inside the intussuscipiens is called the intussusceptum. The result of an intussusception is that the bowel is obstructed and its blood supply gradually cut off. Surgery is sometimes necessary to relieve the obstruction.
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Biliary colic is the presenting symptom in 80% of patients with gallstone disease who seek medical care; however, only 10-20% of all individuals with gallstones experience severe gallstone pain.
From: eMedicine
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