Two children with lethargy and intussusception.

The cases of two patients with lethargy as the predominant symptom of intussusception are described. The first patient was admitted to the pediatric ICU with unexplained lethargy. The diagnosis of intussusception was made after he developed right lower quadrant abdominal tenderness and heme-positive stool. The second patient was diagnosed after presenting to the emergency department with intermittent lethargy, right lower quadrant abdominal tenderness, and heme-positive stool. The presence of gastrointestinal symptoms or signs in association with lethargy should alert the physician to the possibility of an intussusception.