Workshop on intussusception in African countries - Meeting report

► A workshop of African experts working on intussusception was convened by the World Health Organization in association with the Pan-African Association of Paediatric Surgeons (PAPSA). ► Delegates from 10 countries presented data from retrospective record reviews of intussusception events in children from 1993 to 2003 at selected hospitals in their respective countries. ► This review showed that age of intussusception onset during infancy varies markedly with peak prevalence between 4 and 6 months of life. ► Diagnostic modality (e.g., contrast enema, ultrasound) was employed in <20% of the events; nearly 70% of the intussusception events were diagnosed at the time of surgery. ► Overall, case-fatality was high, ∼13%, in these African countries.