RESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Intussusception is a life-threatening illness, with incompletely understood aetiology, although some predisposing factors are known. Intussusception frequently occurs in well-nourished chubby infants. We aimed to determine whether patients presenting with intussusception have a high prevalence of obesity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross sectional study was conducted in 100 infants presenting with intussusception aged ≤2â¯years at the Paediatric Surgery Department. Anthropometric measures, history of recent upper respiratory tract infection, timing and type of intervention were recorded. A near median split divided the population into younger (agedâ¯<â¯8â¯months, Nâ¯=â¯47) and older (8-24â¯months, Nâ¯=â¯53) groups. Obesity was defined as having a body weight for lengthâ¯≥â¯97.7th centile on WHO growth charts. RESULTS: The study comprised 58 boys and 42 girls, 31% of whom had upper respiratory infection in the preceding month. Obesity was present in 18% of patients, based on WHO growth charts. There was a trend towards higher percentage of obese infants within the younger (25%) compared to older age groups (12%, Pâ¯=â¯0.085), but no gender difference. Obesity did not influence the rate of success of hydrostatic reduction. Based on Egypt-specific growth charts, the percentage of infants with a weight-for-age centileâ¯≥â¯85th was 42%, of whom 7% wereâ¯≥â¯97.7th centile. The corresponding percentages for the weight-for-length were 29% and 15% of patients respectively. CONCLUSION: There is a high prevalence of obesity in infants presenting with intussusception, particularly under 8â¯months of age. The mechanistic link between obesity and the pathogenesis of intussusception deserves investigation.