Volvulus
Children with acute gastroenteritis may complain of abdominal pain. And it is for this condition called volvulus that pediatricians are not giving pain relievers to the pediatric age group having acute gastroenteritis.
So, what is volvulus?
Volvulus is a condition involving the twisting of a bowel segment upon itself to the point of occluding its lumen and subsequently causing strangulation of the bowel.
This may occur anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract from the stomach to the colon.
Gastric volvulus is one of the least common causes of intestinal obstruction in infants and children.
There may be sudden severe abdominal pain with retching and upper abdominal distention.
On the other hand, volvulus of the small intestine may result from malrotation of the intestine, Meckel’s diverticulum, bands and post-operative adhesions.
Colonic volvulus occurs when the cecum or sigmoid colon is attached to a long mesentery on which the colonic segment can twist.
The patient will have sudden recurring pain in the right iliac fossa for the cecal volvulus and low on the left iliac fossa for the sigmoid volvulus.
The affected child will also have vomiting, abdominal distention and the inability to defecate even in the presence of a strong urge. The rectum is usually empty.
Children with abdominal pain are closely monitored for volvulus so that early intervention will be initiated.