Intussusception and COVID-19 in Infants: Evidence for an Etiopathologic Correlation

Pediatrics. 2022 Jun 1;149(6):e2021054644. doi: 10.1542/peds.2021-054644.

Abstract

Nonrespiratory conditions related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections have been largely described. Ileocolic intussusception has been reported in association with SARS-CoV-2 infection in 10 children, raising the possibility of an etiopathologic role for the virus, but none of these cases documented tissue pathology that would have supported SARS-CoV-2 intestinal inflammation. We report 2 cases of intussusception in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection who were treated at different pediatric tertiary centers in Europe and provide evidence of the presence of the virus in mesenteric and intestinal tissues of the patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19* / complications
  • Child
  • Europe
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Intussusception* / diagnostic imaging
  • Intussusception* / etiology
  • SARS-CoV-2