Adult intussusception in northern Nigeria: a changing disease?

Intussusception in the tropics and sub-tropics had always been regarded as mainly a disease of adults. This paper reports on both a decrease in frequency of the disease in the adult as well as a reduction in the frequency of large bowel involvement. Sixteen adults were treated for intussusception in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria in 10 years. The correct diagnosis was made in one patient prior to operation. Eight intussusceptions were of small intestinal origin and eight were colonic. One patient in the enteric group and three in the colonic group had benign tumours. One colonic tumour was malignant. Eleven intussusceptions were "idiopathic". Four patients in the enteric group had resection; one for neoplasm and three for irreducibility. Four patients in the colonic group had resection, all for neoplasm. Morbidity was minimal and there was no death. A treatment strategy at variance with that advocated in the Western world is suggested.