What does intussusception describe?

Intussusception refers specifically to the condition where a segment of the intestine telescopes or folds into an adjacent segment. This can lead to obstruction, as the affected segments can push against each other, cutting off the blood supply and causing potential damage to the bowel. This is most commonly seen in children, particularly between the ages of 6 months and 3 years, and can manifest with symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, and, in some cases, a classic "currant jelly" stool due to the presence of blood and mucus.

The other choices describe different conditions that do not pertain to the specific mechanism of intussusception. Inflammation of the bowel refers to conditions like gastroenteritis or inflammatory bowel disease, while impaction of stool in the rectum describes constipation issues, and colonic diverticula formation pertains to diverticulosis, a condition associated with weak spots in the colon wall. Each of these conditions presents with its own set of symptoms and requires distinct approaches to management, differentiating them from intussusception.