13. Fever: The Body’s Inflammatory Response
Fever, often dismissed as a general symptom, in the context of intussusception, narrates a tale of inflammatory response. It silently signals the body’s internal battle. A battle instigated by the telescoping, inflamed intestinal segments.
Even a mild elevation in body temperature deserves close scrutiny. Within the narrative of intussusception, it softly speaks of potential infection, of the body rallying its defenses against an unseen, internal antagonist.
Children, with fever, exhibit a general malaise. Restlessness, irritability, and an overt disliking for feeds become apparent. The perpetual discomfort, visible, and tangible, beckons parents and caregivers into a state of alert.
Adults may rationalize initial fevers as transient, unrelated events. However, when interwoven with other symptoms, a pattern emerges. A pattern that illuminates the possible undercurrent of intussusception behind these elevating temperatures. (13)
