Hirschsprungs Disease - Medtick
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Hirschsprungs Disease

What is it?

Hirschsprung’s disease is a blockage of the large intestine due to improper muscle movement in the bowel (an absence of the nerves normally found in the colon that control the innate motion of the colon and move food along the tract).

  • In Hirschsprung’s disease, the nerves are missing from a part of the bowel and there have no rhythmic contractions (peristalsis).
  • It cannot push material through the bowel causing a blockage, intestinal contents then build up behind the blockage causing the bowel and abdomen to become swollen.
  • It is present from birth.

Cause

Syndromes

Symptoms

Symptoms that may be present in newborns and infants include:

  • Hard to pass stools and/or are constipated?
  • Difficulty with bowel movements?
  • Failure to pass meconium shortly after birth?
  • Failure to pass a first stool within 24 – 48 hours after birth?
  • Infrequent but explosive stools?
  • Poor feeding?
  • Poor weight gain?
  • Vomiting?
  • Watery diarrhoea (in the new born)?
  • Constipation that gradually gets worse?
  • Faecal impaction?
  • Malnutrition?
  • Slow growth?
  • Swollen belly?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Medical Emergency Condition

And/or do not wait, phone for an ambulance if have or develop:

  • Septicaemia
  • Peritonitis
  • Nausea and vomiting (not always)
  • Hugh or increase in swelling over liver/or spleen area
  • Hugh or increase in swelling over stomach area (not due to have eaten food or wind)
  • Severe abdominal pain
  • Balance and dizziness (not always)
  • Bleeding through any orifice (not always)

This condition can occur with:

Detailed Information

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