Emergency Medicine Practice Test 2025 – Complete Exam Preparation

The condition characterized by "currant jelly" stools is intussusception. This phenomenon occurs when one segment of the intestine telescopes into an adjacent segment, leading to obstruction. As the blood supply to the affected part of the intestine becomes compromised, it can result in ischemia and even necrosis of the bowel tissue.

The "currant jelly" appearance of the stools is attributed to the mixture of blood and mucus that forms in the intestinal lumen as a result of the obstruction and inflammation. This is a classic sign associated with intussusception, particularly in children, and helps clinicians in the diagnosis of the condition.

In contrast, appendicitis typically presents with right lower quadrant pain and may cause diarrhea or vomiting, but does not produce currant jelly stools. Diverticulitis may cause changes in bowel habits and abdominal pain but does not typically present with currant jelly stools either. Necrotizing enterocolitis, more common in neonates, presents with abdominal distension, feeding intolerance, and possibly blood in stools, but the blood typically is not described as "currant jelly." Thus, the description specifically correlates to intussusception.