epidemiology
Last reviewed 01/2018
Most intussusception usually occurs in previously healthy children, commonly aged between 5 and 18 months, with boys affected twice as much as girls. The incidence is about 2 per 1000 live births, and it is the commonest cause of intestinal obstruction in children aged 3 months to 6 years.
There is often a pronounced seasonal variation, suggesting an underlying viral aetiology (adenovirus and rotavirus have been suggested).