HIRSCHSPRUNG DISEASE

It is a birth defect in which some nerve cells are missing in the large intestine, so a child’s intestine can’t move stool normally and becomes blocked.

TYPES: - The major types of Hirschsprung disease are short-segment Hirschsprung disease, in which nerve cells are missing from the rectum and sometimes the lower part of the colon, called the sigmoid colon.

long-segment Hirschsprung disease, in which nerve cells are missing from the rectum and a longer part of the colon than in short-segment Hirschsprung disease, but nerve cells are present in at least part of the colon. total colonic Hirschsprung disease, in which nerve cells are missing from the rectum and the entire colon, but are present in the end of the small intestine. Hirschsprung disease, in which nerve cells are missing from the rectum, colon, and the end of the small intestine, but are present in the rest of the small intestine. Hirschsprung disease, in which nerve cells are missing from the rectum, colon, and all, or nearly all, of the small intestine. In a child with Hirschsprung disease, stool moves through the intestines until it reaches the part lacking nerve cells. At that point, the stool moves slowly or stops.

About 80% of children with Hirschsprung disease have the short-segment type.1 In about 5% to 10% of children with Hirschsprung disease, nerve cells are missing from all of the large intestine and sometimes from part of the small intestine.

COMPLICATIONS OF HIRSCHSPRUNG DISEASE

Hirschsprung disease may lead to Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis and other complications.

Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis.

The most common complication of Hirschsprung disease is Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis, a condition in which the intestines become inflamed. This complication may occur before or after a child has surgery to treat Hirschsprung disease.

SYMPTOMS: -

Symptoms of Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis may include:

• swelling of the abdomen
• fever
• diarrhea
• vomiting
• lack of energy
• rectal bleeding
• shock

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS IN NEWBORN INFANTS

Some infants with Hirschsprung disease have signs and symptoms of intestinal obstruction shortly after they are born, which include: Not having a first bowel movement within 48 hours after birth green or brown vomit swollen abdomen, or bellyproblems feeding explosive stools or diarrhea after a doctor inserts a finger into the newborn’s rectum, Newborns with Hirschsprung disease may also have signs or symptoms of complications.

SYMPTOMS IN OLDER INFANTS, CHILDREN, AND ADULTS: -

Children with Hirschsprung disease who don’t have signs and symptoms of intestinal obstruction at birth may not be diagnosed and treated until they are older. Common symptoms in older infants and children include: chronic constipation that doesn’t get better after treatment with oral laxatives—laxatives that are taken by mouth swollen abdomen malnutrition or failure to thrive, meaning that an infant or child weighs less or is gaining less weight than expected for his or her age

SYMPTOMS OF HIRSCHSPRUNG-ASSOCIATED ENTEROCOLITIS, SUCH AS DIARRHEA.

CAUSES: -

Hirschsprung disease occurs when nerve cells in the intestines don’t develop normally before an infant is born. Experts are still studying factors that may cause problems with how these nerve cells grow.

Certain genes increase the chance that a child will have Hirschsprung disease. Experts think that several different genes may play a role.

ROLE OF HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICINES IN MANAGING HIRSCHSPRUNG'S DISEASE: -

Hirschsprung's Disease is a complicated clinical condition which could be controlled with various homoeopathic medicines. The symptoms may be similar to these medicines:

 Alumina, Acid nitric, Bryonia, Cina, Ferrum met, Hydrastis, Medorrhinum, Nat mur, Podophyllum, Opium, Syphillinum, Thuja occ, Tuberculinum.