Intestinal obstruction in children in India

A total of 243 cases of intestinal obstruction were seen in the Paediatric Surgery Unit of S. S. Hospital, Varanasi, during a period of 2.5 years. Surgical exploration was required in 85%; 15% responded to conservative treatment. The male/female incidence was 75.72%:24.28%. Intussusception (16%), Ascaris bolus obstruction (13.5%), enteric perforation (12.3%), and abdominal tuberculosis (11%) formed the majority of the cases. Morbidity and mortality due to intestinal obstruction and its complications is high in India due to delayed medical attention, poor primary health services, health ignorance, and poor socioeconomic status.Offprint requests to: A. N. Gangopadhyay