National Vaccine Injury Attorneys Representing Clients with Vaccine Triggered Intussusception

Vaccination is a medical intervention designed to invoke a protective immune response. While a vast majority of people experience no lasting ill effects from vaccination, for some rare individuals that immune response goes awry, leading to devastating effects. Among the rare vaccine injuries is an intestinal injury called intussusception.

What Is Intussusception?

Intussusception occurs when part of the intestine slides into another segment of intestine, similar to a telescope collapsing into itself. This can lead to a blockage in the intestine which can be life threatening.

While intussusception can occur at any age, it is a common cause of intestinal obstruction in young children, particularly kids under six years old.

Intussusception Symptoms and Treatment

In intussusception, the symptoms can be subtle, and in young children, may be initially mistaken for signs of colic. Symptoms may include:

• Abdominal pain that comes and goes;
• Vomiting;
• Anguished/distressed crying; and/or
• Red, mucus-like stool

Intussusception can be diagnosed based on a clinical exam and abdominal imaging. Often, an x ray of the abdomen or an abdominal ultrasound can reveal findings that support an intussusception diagnosis. At times, an enema may be administered which can be both part of the diagnostic work up, and at times, an effective treatment.

If enema treatment is ineffective, surgical intervention may prove necessary. Surgery can either consist of an open procedure, in which a larger incision is made to reveal the bowel, or a laparoscopic procedure which is less invasive. The goal of surgical intervention is to de-telescope the intestine and restore functionality. If the portion of intestine cannot be assisted back into place, then that portion may need to be removed.

What Is the Relationship Between Vaccines and Intussusception?

The relationship between vaccines and intussusception is not entirely understood, though it does have some association with Rotavirus vaccines. If intussusception occurs within 1-21 days following the administration of either a first or second rotavirus vaccine, then there may be a Table claim possible in the National Vaccine Compensation Program (VICP). This means that the vaccine may be presumed to have triggered the intussusception. For any other vaccine leading to intussusception, there is no presumption of vaccine causality, though a claim may still be brought depending on the facts.

Cases filed in the VICP are extremely complex and require the skilled handling of medical data. That complexity requires that the attorneys handling vaccine injury claims be well versed not only in the Vaccine Program, but in the science behind vaccine injuries like intussusception.

Legal Help for Intussusception Caused by Vaccination

If you or a loved one experienced intussusception following vaccination, our attorneys will talk with you directly to learn more about the circumstances and discuss how to pursue a vaccine injury claim through the VICP.

We will work to assist you in recovering the compensation you deserve for the costs of medical treatment, any past or future loss of income by you or your ill family member, and the pain and suffering experienced. We have been helping vaccine injured clients for almost 20 years and are highly experienced in recovering compensation for those injured by vaccines, with injuries included on the VICP Vaccine Injury Table as well as with "off-table" injuries. To schedule a consultation, contact us by calling 312-858-2177. We represent clients in the Chicago area, throughout Illinois, and across the United States.