A nurse in an acute care facility is caring for a toddler. Exhibits For each assessment finding below, click to specify if the assessment finding is consistent with Crohn's disease, appendicitis, or intussusception. Each finding may support more than 1 disease process.

Rationale: • Stool: The presence of blood and mucus in the stool (“currant jelly” stool) is classic for intussusception, caused by ischemia and mucosal sloughing of the affected bowel segment. • Abdominal findings: A distended abdomen with a small, palpable, oblong mass in the right upper quadrant is characteristic of the telescoping bowel seen in intussusception. • Pain rating: Severe, intermittent, colicky abdominal pain causing the child to draw knees to chest is hallmark of intussusception due to periodic intestinal obstruction and ischemia. Children with Crohn’s may report chronic mild to moderate pain, often intermittent. Pain in appendicitis is usually steady, localized and worsens over time. • Vomiting : Vomiting is common in intussusception due to partial bowel obstruction, often light-colored and non-bilious in early stages. In appendicitis, nausea and vomiting are common early symptoms. •Temperature: In Crohn's disease low-grade fever is common due to the chronic inflammatory process, while in appendicitis, low-grade fever is common due to inflammation or early infection.