16 cases of intussusception, occurred in the last 9 years in the Pediatric Department of the Ospedale di Circolo of Varese, are reported. Barium enema was carried out in 15 cases and the reduction of the intussusception, attempted in 5 of them, was obtained in 3 (20%). The low rate of the attempts of reduction by barium enema is consistently related to a delay in the diagnosis; 56% of the patients showed actually at the diagnosis the three main symptoms simultaneously: abdominal pain, vomiting, "currant jelly stool". The significant positive correlation (p less than 0.01) between the symptoms duration at the diagnosis and the hospitalization period points out that a correct treatment of the intussusception depends mainly on a precocious diagnosis.