Hirschsprung's disease Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment At Sakra World Hospital Marathahalli Bangalore

What is Hirschsprung’s disease?

Hirschsprung's disease (also called colonic aganglionosis) is a blockage of the large intestine due to improper muscle movement in the bowel. It is a congenital condition, which means it is present from birth.

Causes

In Hirschsprung's disease, certain types of nerve cells (called ganglion cells) are missing from a part of the bowel. In areas without such nerves, the muscle within the bowel wall does not contract to push material through, which causes a blockage. Intestinal contents build up behind the blockage, swelling the bowel and abdomen.

Hirschsprung's disease causes about 25% of all newborn intestinal blockages, but is also identified in older babies and children. It occurs five times more often in males than in females. Hirschsprung's disease is sometimes associated with other inherited or congenital conditions.

Symptoms

Infants:

Difficulty or straining with bowel movements
Failure to pass meconium (stool) shortly after birth (within 24 - 48 hours)
Infrequent but explosive stools
Poor feeding
Poor weight gain
Vomiting
Watery diarrhea (in the newborn)

Older children:

Constipation that gradually gets worse (patients may need to take laxatives regularly)
Fecal impaction
Malnutrition
Slow growth

Diagnosis

Milder cases may not be diagnosed until a later age. During a physical examination, the doctor may be able to feel loops of bowel in the swollen belly.

Tests used to help diagnose Hirschsprung's disease may include:

Abdominal x-ray
Barium enema – an x-ray that shows the shape of the rectum and colon.
Anal manometry – measurement of pressure within the rectum using an inflatable balloon
Rectal biopsy – Rectal mucosal biopsy and acetylcholine staining is the gold standard test for diagnosing Hirschsprungs disease.

Treatment

Before the operation, a procedure called serial rectal irrigation helps relieve pressure in (decompress) the bowel. The abnormal sections of colon and rectum must be removed with surgery to permit the child to pass stools easily. The healthy part of the colon is then moved into the child’s pelvis and attached to the anus.

Sometimes this can be done in one operation but it is often done in two parts (also called a “staged procedure”).If performed in one operation, the surgeon will connect the colon to the anus immediately after removing the abnormal colon and rectum. If performed as a staged procedure, first step is to remove the diseased colon and rectum, followed by a colostomy. When a colostomy is performed, the cut edge of the large intestine is brought to an opening that is made through the wall of the abdomen. This allows bowel contents to empty into a bag. Later, when the child’s weight, age, and condition have improved, a pull-through procedure is performed, which removes the colostomy and connects the large intestine to the anus to permit the child to pass normal bowel movements.

Recovery

Symptoms improve or go away in most children after surgery. A small number of children may have constipation or problems controlling stools (fecal incontinence). Generally speaking, children who are treated early and those with limited disease (which allows the surgeon to leave more healthy bowel in place) have a better outcome.

Quick Enquiry

Name *

Mobile number *

Email *

Message *

Blogs related to

13-year-old boy unable to voluntarily control his urination goes through a unique surgery and gets a fresh lease of life

Imagine the misery, a 13-year-old boy has to go through, if he is unable to control his urination in front of his friends, family and in a social gathering and helplessly wets his pants and

Read More

Vesicoscopic Ureteric Reimplantation

Vesicoureteric reflux is the abnormal flow of urine from the bladder back up the ureters that connect the kidneys to the bladder.
In normal conditions, urine flows from the kidneys through the ureters down to

Read More

The Surprising Link Between Oral Health and Pregnancy

Can Oral Health Have an Effect on Pregnancy?

Recent research indicates a link between gum disease and childbirth complications. Pregnant women who have gum disease may be more likely to have a baby that is born

Read More

Docs Extricate LED Bulb From Toddler

Infants and babies have their own new ways of exploring everything in the small world around them. Everything is new to them and so is to the new parents. Especially in case of first time

Read More

View more blogs

Hirschsprung's disease

Quick Enquiry

Doctors

Dr. Anil Kumar Pura Lingegowda

Senior Consultant & HOD-Paediatric Surgery

Testimonials

Little Champ's Story - A 1.5 year old's fight against cancer

Blogs related to

13-year-old boy unable to voluntarily control his urination goes through a unique surgery and gets a fresh lease of life

Vesicoscopic Ureteric Reimplantation

The Surprising Link Between Oral Health and Pregnancy

Docs Extricate LED Bulb From Toddler

Sakra Centre of Excellence

Sakra Specialities

Patient Care

International Patients

Wellness Zone

News and Events

Sakra

Navigate

Hirschsprung's disease

Quick Enquiry

Doctors

Dr. Anil Kumar Pura Lingegowda

Senior Consultant & HOD-Paediatric Surgery

Testimonials

Little Champ's Story - A 1.5 year old's fight against cancer

Blogs related to

13-year-old boy unable to voluntarily control his urination goes through a unique surgery and gets a fresh lease of life

Vesicoscopic Ureteric Reimplantation

The Surprising Link Between Oral Health and Pregnancy

Docs Extricate LED Bulb From Toddler

13-year-old boy unable to voluntarily control his urination goes through a unique surgery and gets a fresh lease of life

Vesicoscopic Ureteric Reimplantation

The Surprising Link Between Oral Health and Pregnancy

Docs Extricate LED Bulb From Toddler

Sakra Centre of Excellence

Sakra Specialities

Patient Care

International Patients

Wellness Zone

News and Events

Sakra