Symptoms of intestinal obstruction in the baby

In the early stages of an intestinal obstruction, the baby may develop watery, mucous diarrhoea. This is the liquid stool residue that slips past the intestinal obstruction, the “blockage”. An intestinal obstruction causes abdominal pain.

In a baby, the abdominal pain can be noticeable by increased crying and restlessness. Babies often pull their legs up when they have abdominal pain. The abdominal pain is usually colicky.

This means that they are acute and relapsing. When you feel the baby’s tummy, it is hard and hurts when you press on it. Another indication is loss of appetite.

An intestinal obstruction also causes vomiting. At first, babies vomit the last food they ingested from their stomach. In the case of a complete intestinal obstruction, the baby will eventually vomit feces, as this cannot be excreted in the normal way. In advanced stages, the baby may develop pale, cold sweaty skin. These symptoms can be signs of anxiety or indicate a state of shock.

Symptoms of intestinal obstruction in children

Intestinal obstruction in children is a dangerous disease in the abdominal cavity. One speaks of an incomplete intestinal obstruction if there is a narrowing (so-called stenosis) in the intestine. A complete intestinal obstruction is called ileus.

It is often caused by an unintentional invagination of the bowel. Usually the small intestine invaginates into the appendix or large intestine. An intestinal obstruction is dangerous in that the digested food pulp cannot pass through the intestinal tract.

An intestinal obstruction is a life-threatening situation for both children and adults and requires immediate medical intervention. The condition is so dangerous because the food can no longer be transported to the rectum, so that germs and also the intestinal contents themselves can pass through the intestinal wall into the peritoneal cavity, where they can cause a life-threatening inflammation of the abdominal cavity or even peritonitis. An untreated intestinal obstruction can lead to death.

In children, intestinal obstruction is also diagnosed by palpation of the abdomen, with particular attention being paid to the defensive tension typical of an inflammation, i.e. the involuntary tension of the abdominal wall when touched. Listening can also be revealing, so missing bowel sounds can be an indication of a paralysing intestinal obstruction. Furthermore, the doctor uses imaging techniques such as x-rays, ultrasound or computer tomography.

Blood tests that check the number of white blood cells are also useful, as an increase in this number above the standard value is an important indication of an inflammatory process in the body (which does not necessarily have to take place in the intestine). The therapy of an intestinal obstruction in a child is usually gentle, if possible, but massage or enemas may be considered. It is hoped that the invagination of the small intestine, which causes the intestinal obstruction, can be reversed. Antibiotics are often given as medication to prevent the spread of bacteria in the abdominal cavity. In acute cases, however, children may also require surgery to remove the obstruction (such as a tumour) or to loosen the obstruction.