Hirschsprung’s disease also known as HD is actually a disease of the large intestine. The colon is the word used for large intestine. Bowel is the word that can be used for large or small intestines. HD usually transpires in young kids, it leads to constipation thus making the bowel movements difficult. In some cases it has been noticed that some children do not even have bowel movements at all and the stool blocks the large intestine. The stool fills up the large intestine and even causes the colon to burst thus leading to death, if the hirschsprung’s disease is not treated.

Most parents feel frightened when they learn that their child has a serious disease. This information will help you understand Hirschsprung’s disease and how you and the doctor can help your child.

Constipation caused by Hirschsprung’s Disease

The muscles in the intestine actually push the stool to anus and from where the stool leaves thee body. The ganglion cells are the special nerve cells which help the muscles in the intestine push the stool. The person suffering from Hirschsprung’s disease does not have these nerve cells in the last part of the large intestine. The healthy muscles of a person who suffers from Hirschsprung’s disease pushes the stool till the time it reaches the part without the nerve cells, the stool thus stops moving at the point of time and the new stools begins to pile up.

The ganglion cells or the special nerve cells are sometimes not at all present in the large intestine and from some parts of the small intestine as well. The long segment disease is the one in which the diseased section reaches the small intestine. The short segment disease is the one in which the diseased section reaches the large intestine.

Hirschsprung’s disease – Causes?

The nerve cells begin forming in the body as soon as the baby starts forming in the womb; the Hirschsprung’s disease develops before even the child is born. The nerve cells travel all the way from top of the baby’s intestine to the anus. If the baby is suffering from the Hirschsprung’s disease then the nerve cells stop growing before they even reach the end.

Why the nerve cell stops growing the answer to this is still unknown, but one thing is clear that this is not the mother’s fault. The mother is not the cause of Hirschsprung’s disease. There are some rare disorders associated with Hirschsprung’s disease such as Down’s syndrome.

What are the symptoms of Hirschsprung’s disease??

The symptoms of Hirschsprung’s disease can be noticed in children at a very early age, but somehow these symptoms do not appear till the time the child turns out to be a teenager or an adult. The symptoms actually vary with the age.

Symptoms in Newborns

Some newborns do not have their first bowel but they actually throw up a green color liquid known as bile after eating and abdomens of the child swells. There is certain discomfort caused by gas or constipation which can make the newborn fussy. Some newborn babies even develop some infections in the intestines.

Symptoms in Young Children

Many young children suffer from suffer from severe constipation; some kids also suffer from diarrhea frequently as compared to the other kids. Some kids who suffer from Hirschsprung’s disease are anemic and have shortage of red blood cells as lot of blood is lost in the stools. The growth of many young kids who suffer from Hirschsprung’s disease is much slower than other kids.

Symptoms in Teenagers and Adults

Teenagers and adults suffer from constipation all their lives and are also anemic. Patients who suffer from anemia look pale and they are lethargic as they tire easily.

Treatment:

Pull-through Surgery

Surgery is the only solution of treating Hirschsprung’s disease and this surgery is called as pull through surgery. There are three procedures that a pull through surgery can be performed. The three procedures are Swenson, soave and Duhamel. All these procedures a different from one another but they have the same aim as to remove the part of the intestine that does not work and fix the part that’s left to the anus. Once the pull through surgery is performed the child has proper working intestine.

Favorable asked Question: If the mother gives birth to more than one child will the other children’s suffer from Hirschsprung’s disease?

The answer to this question is yes, but it’s better to consult your doctor as he/she can guide you better about the risks involved. The general idea is if you have one kid with Hirschsprung’s disease, then there is a possibility that the others may also suffer from the same.  In some of the cases the Hirschsprung’s disease is also hereditary.

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