Altered consciousness as a precocious manifestation of intussusception in infants.

Two infants aged 5 and 8 months respectively who developed a marked alteration in consciousness as a precocious manifestation of ileo-colic intussusception are reported. Previously described abnormalities of central nervous system function accompanying intussusception are reviewed. It is suggested that in the face of acutely altered sensorium without apparent cause in the infant the diagnosis of intussusception should be considered.