Question

Difficulty: EasyPediatric Gastrointestinal Disorders

Match each classic clinical scenario to the most appropriate pediatric gastrointestinal diagnosis.

  • An infant at 5 weeks of life presenting with forceful, non-bilious emesis immediately after feeds and a palpable, firm abdominal nodule.Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis
  • A 14-month-old toddler exhibiting periods of sudden, inconsolable crying accompanied by drawing the knees to the abdomen, followed by passage of dark red, gelatinous stool.Intussusception
  • A term newborn who has not passed stool by 60 hours of life, presenting with a progressively distended abdomen and an explosive release of gas and stool upon digital rectal examination.Hirschsprung disease
  • A previously healthy 9-day-old baby who rapidly develops green-colored vomiting; subsequent fluoroscopic imaging demonstrates a spiraling appearance of the proximal bowel.Malrotation with midgut volvulus

Answer

1. Forceful emesis and a palpable nodule match Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. 2. Colicky pain and gelatinous stool match Intussusception. 3. Delayed meconium and squirt sign match Hirschsprung disease. 4. Green-colored vomiting and spiraling bowel on imaging match Malrotation with midgut volvulus.
Each clinical vignette provides highly specific, classic findings that directly point to a single diagnosis without ambiguity, matching the expected presentation of these major pediatric gastrointestinal disorders.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the presentation of the 5-week-old infant with forceful non-bilious emesis.
Identified as hypertrophic pyloric stenosis due to the classic age of onset, absence of bile, and palpable nodule (the pyloric 'olive').
Hypertrophy of the pylorus causes gastric outlet obstruction, preventing bile from mixing with the vomitus.
2
Evaluate the 14-month-old with episodic crying and gelatinous stool.
Identified as intussusception based on the colicky pain pattern and 'currant jelly' stool appearance.
Bowel telescoping causes intermittent obstruction and ischemia, leading to the classic pain episodes and mucosal bleeding mixed with mucus.
3
Assess the term newborn with delayed meconium and an explosive rectal exam response.
Identified as Hirschsprung disease due to the failure to pass meconium within 48 hours and the 'squirt sign'.
Aganglionosis of the distal colon causes a functional obstruction; digital stimulation temporarily relieves the muscular spasm.
4
Examine the 9-day-old baby with green vomiting and spiraling bowel on imaging.
Identified as malrotation with midgut volvulus based on bilious emesis and the 'corkscrew' sign.
Anomalous midgut rotation predisposes the bowel to twist around the superior mesenteric artery, causing obstruction distal to the ampulla of Vater (resulting in bilious emesis) and rapid ischemia.

Key Concept

Recognition of hallmark clinical presentations for pediatric gastrointestinal emergencies.
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