Which finding would most strongly suggest intussusception rather than viral gastroenteritis?

• A. Crampy abdominal pain with vomiting and currant jelly stool
• B. Afebrile with loose, watery stool
• C. Bloody diarrhea without crampy pain
• D. Severe dehydration

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is recognizing signs that point toward intussusception rather than viral gastroenteritis. A pattern of crampy abdominal pain that comes and goes, vomiting, and the appearance of currant jelly stool (mucus mixed with blood from bowel telescoping and mucosal edema) is highly suggestive of intussusception. Viral gastroenteritis, by contrast, typically causes vomiting and diarrhea without those intermittent, crampy episodes and without blood-streaked or jelly-like stool.

So this finding—crampy abdominal pain with vomiting and currant jelly stool—best differentiates intussusception. The other options fit more with gastroenteritis or dehydration in a less specific way: afebrile with loose, watery stool leans toward viral illness; bloody diarrhea without crampy pain could be inflammatory or infectious colitis; severe dehydration is nonspecific and can accompany many gastroenteritis cases.