Hirschsprung's disease (patient information): Difference between revisions

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'''For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click [[Hirschsprung's disease|here]]'''
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'''Editor-in-Chief:''' Meagan E. Doherty
'''For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click [[Hirschsprung's disease|here]].'''
{{Hirschsprung's disease (patient information)}}
{{CMG}}; '''Assistant Editor-in-Chief:''' Meagan E. Doherty


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==Overview==
 
Hirschsprung's disease 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.
==What is Hirschsprung's disease?==
Hirschsprung's disease 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.


==What are the symptoms of Hirschsprung's disease?==
==What are the symptoms of Hirschsprung's disease?==
* [[Constipation]]
* [[Constipation]]
* Failure to pass meconium shortly after birth
* Failure to pass a first stool within 24-48 hours after birth
* Failure to pass a first stool within 24 - 48 hours after birth
* [[Malabsorption]]
* [[Malabsorption]]
* Poor weight gain
* Poor [[weight gain]]
* Slow growth (child 0-5 years)
* Slow growth (child 0-5 years)
* Swollen belly
* [[Swollen belly]]
* [[Vomiting]]
* [[Vomiting]]
* [[Watery diarrhea]] (in the newborn)
* [[Watery diarrhea]] (in the [[newborn]])


==What are the causes of Hirschsprung's disease?==
==What are the causes of Hirschsprung's disease?==
Muscle contractions in the gut help digested materials move through the intestine. This is called [[peristalsis]]. Nerves in between the muscle layers trigger the contractions.
[[Muscle]] contractions in the [[gut]] help digested materials move through the [[intestine]]. This is called [[peristalsis]]. Trigger of the contractions are [[nerves]] among the muscle layers .


In Hirschsprung's disease, the nerves are missing from a short or long part of the bowel. Areas without such nerves can not push material through. This causes a blockage. Intestinal contents build up behind the blockage, causing the bowel and abdomen to become swollen. If the condition is severe, the newborn may fail to pass meconium or stool, and the newborn may vomit.
In Hirschsprung's disease, the [[nerves]] are missing from a short or long part of the bowel. Areas without such [[nerves]] can not push material through. This causes a blockage. Intestinal contents build up behind the blockage, causing the bowel and abdomen to become swollen. If the condition is severe, the newborn may fail to pass [[meconium]] or stool, and the newborn may [[Vomiting|vomit]].


Milder cases may not be diagnosed until a later age. In older children, the disease may be cause chronic constipation, [[abdominal swelling]], and decreased growth.
Milder cases may not be diagnosed until later ages. In older children, the disease may cause chronic [[constipation]], [[abdominal swelling]], and decreased growth.


Hirschsprung's disease causes about 25% of all newborn intestinal obstruction. It occurs five times more frequently in males than in females. Hirschsprung's disease is sometimes associated with other inherited or congenital conditions such as [[Down syndrome]].
Hirschsprung's disease causes about 25% of all newborn intestinal obstructions. It occurs five times more frequently in males than in females. Hirschsprung's disease is sometimes associated with other inherited or congenital conditions such as [[Down syndrome]].


==Who is at risk for Hirschsprung's disease?==
==Who is at risk for Hirschsprung's disease?==
Risk Factors include:
Risk Factors include:
*gender: males have a higher risk than females
*Gender (i.e., higher risk in males than females)
*having a congenital condition such as Down Syndrome
*Congenital condition (e.g., [[Down Syndrome]]).


==Diagnosis==
During a physical examination, the doctor may be able to feel loops of [[bowel]] in the [[swollen belly]]. A [[rectal]] examination may reveal a loss of [[muscle tone]] in the rectal muscles.


==How to know you have Hirschsprung's disease?==
*Tests used to help Hirschsprung's disease diagnosis, may include:
During a physical examination, the doctor may be able to feel loops of bowel in the swollen belly. A rectal examination may reveal a loss of muscle tone in the rectal muscles.
** Abdominal [[x-ray]]
** Anal [[manometry]] (a balloon is inflated in the [[rectum]] to measure pressure in the area)
** [[Barium enema]]
** [[Rectal]] [[biopsy]]


'''Tests used to help diagnose Hirschsprung's disease may include:'''
===Diseases with similar symptoms===
* Abdominal x-ray
*[[Intestinal cyst]] or [[tumor]]
* Anal manometry (a balloon is inflated in the rectum to measure pressure in the area)
*[[Meconium plug syndrome]]
* Barium enema
* Rectal biopsy


==When to seek urgent medical care==
==When to seek urgent medical care?==
Call your child's health care provider if symptoms of Hirschsprung's disease develop.
Call your child's [[health care provider]] if symptoms of Hirschsprung's disease developed.


Call your child's health care provider if your child has abdominal pain or other new symptoms after being treated for this condition.
Call your child's [[health care provider]] if your child has [[abdominal pain]] or other new symptoms, after being treated for this condition.


==Treatment options==
==Treatment options==
The abnormal section of colon must be surgically removed. Sometimes this can be done in one operation. However, it is frequently done in two parts with a colostomy being performed first, and another procedure being performed later in the first year of life.
The abnormal section of [[colon]] must be surgically removed. Sometimes this can be done in one operation. However, it is frequently done within two steps; first [[colostomy]] preformation, and then another procedure later in the first year of life.
==Diseases with similar symptoms==
==Where to find medical care for Hirschsprung's disease?==
*intestinal cyst or tumor
[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q={{urlencode:{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|Hirschsprung's disease}}}}&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=65.008093,112.148438&ie=UTF8&ll=37.0625,-95.677068&spn=91.690419,149.414063&z=2&source=embed Directions to Hospitals Treating Hirschsprung's disease]
*meconium plug syndrome<ref>http://www.cigna.com/healthinfo/hw183346.html</ref>
 
==Where to find medical care for Hirschsprung's disease==
[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&amp;hl=en&amp;geocode=&amp;q={{urlencode:{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|yourdisease}}}}&amp;sll=37.0625,-95.677068&amp;sspn=65.008093,112.148438&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;ll=37.0625,-95.677068&amp;spn=91.690419,149.414063&amp;z=2&amp;source=embed Directions to Hospitals Treating Hirschsprung's disease]
 
 
==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)==
Symptoms improve or are eliminated in most children after surgical treatment. A better outcome is associated with early treatment and shorter bowel segment involvement.


===Possible Complications===
==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?==
* Inflammation and infection of the intestines (enterocolitis)
Symptoms became improved or eliminated in most children after surgical treatment. A better outcome is associated with early treatment and shorter bowel segment involvement.
* Perforation of the intestine
* Short bowel syndrome, a condition that can lead to malnourishment and dehydration


==Possible Complications==
* [[Inflammation]] and [[infection]] of the [[intestine]]s ([[enterocolitis]])
* [[Perforation]] of the [[intestine]]
* [[Short bowel syndrome]] (i.e., a condition that can lead to [[malnourishment]] and [[dehydration]])


==Sources==
==Sources==
*http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001140.htm
[http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001140.htm National Library of Medicine]


[[Category:Patient information]]


[[Category:Gastroenterology]]
[[Category:Disease]]
[[Category:Congenital disorders]]




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[[Category:Patient Information]] {{WH}} {{WS}}
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Latest revision as of 16:00, 17 August 2017


For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here.

Hirschsprung's disease

Overview

What are the symptoms?

What are the causes?

Who is at highest risk?

Diagnosis

When to seek urgent medical care?

Treatment options

Where to find medical care for Hirschsprung's disease?

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Possible complications

Hirschsprung's disease On the Web

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

Images of Hirschsprung's disease

Videos on Hirschsprung's disease

FDA on Hirschsprung's disease

CDC on Hirschsprung's disease

Hirschsprung's disease in the news

Blogs on Hirschsprung's disease

Directions to Hospitals Treating Hirschsprung's disease

Risk calculators and risk factors for Hirschsprung's disease

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Assistant Editor-in-Chief: Meagan E. Doherty

Overview

Hirschsprung's disease 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.

What are the symptoms of Hirschsprung's disease?

What are the causes of Hirschsprung's disease?

Muscle contractions in the gut help digested materials move through the intestine. This is called peristalsis. Trigger of the contractions are nerves among the muscle layers .

In Hirschsprung's disease, the nerves are missing from a short or long part of the bowel. Areas without such nerves can not push material through. This causes a blockage. Intestinal contents build up behind the blockage, causing the bowel and abdomen to become swollen. If the condition is severe, the newborn may fail to pass meconium or stool, and the newborn may vomit.

Milder cases may not be diagnosed until later ages. In older children, the disease may cause chronic constipation, abdominal swelling, and decreased growth.

Hirschsprung's disease causes about 25% of all newborn intestinal obstructions. It occurs five times more frequently in males than in females. Hirschsprung's disease is sometimes associated with other inherited or congenital conditions such as Down syndrome.

Who is at risk for Hirschsprung's disease?

Risk Factors include:

  • Gender (i.e., higher risk in males than females)
  • Congenital condition (e.g., Down Syndrome).

Diagnosis

During a physical examination, the doctor may be able to feel loops of bowel in the swollen belly. A rectal examination may reveal a loss of muscle tone in the rectal muscles.

Diseases with similar symptoms

When to seek urgent medical care?

Call your child's health care provider if symptoms of Hirschsprung's disease developed.

Call your child's health care provider if your child has abdominal pain or other new symptoms, after being treated for this condition.

Treatment options

The abnormal section of colon must be surgically removed. Sometimes this can be done in one operation. However, it is frequently done within two steps; first colostomy preformation, and then another procedure later in the first year of life.

Where to find medical care for Hirschsprung's disease?

Directions to Hospitals Treating Hirschsprung's disease

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Symptoms became improved or eliminated in most children after surgical treatment. A better outcome is associated with early treatment and shorter bowel segment involvement.

Possible Complications

Sources

National Library of Medicine


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