Aganglionosis
How Hirschsprung's disease is diagnosed
Your child's tummy will usually be examined and sometimes a rectal examination may be carried out.This is where a doctor or nurse inserts a finger into the back passage (rectum) to feel for abnormalities.
If Hirschsprung's disease is suspected, an X-ray can bedone to show a blockage and bulge in the bowel.
The diagnosis can be confirmed by doinga rectal biopsy , which involves inserting a small instrument into your child'sbottom to remove atiny sample of the affected bowel.
This is then examined under the microscope to see if the nerve cells are missing.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Hirschsprung's disease is a rare bowel condition that mainly affects babies and young children. Read about the symptoms, causes and treatments.
Symptoms of Hirschsprung's disease
Symptoms of Hirschsprung's disease are usually noticeablefrom soon after a baby is born, although occasionallythey're not obvious until a child is a year or two old. Signs of the condition in a baby
When to get medical advice
Visit your GP if your child develops the symptoms described above. Hirschsprung's disease can be serious if left untreated, so it's important to get help as soon as possible. If your GP suspects the
How Hirschsprung's disease is diagnosed
Your child's tummy will usually be examined and sometimes a rectal examination may be carried out.This is where a doctor or nurse inserts a finger into the back passage (rectum) to feel for abnormali
What causes Hirschsprung's disease?
The muscles of the bowel are controlled by nerve cells called ganglion cells. In Hirschsprung's disease, these ganglion cells are missing from a section at the end of bowel, extending up from the anus
Treatments for Hirschsprung's disease
All children with Hirschsprung's disease will need surgery. As they wait for surgery, theymay need to: stop having milk feeds and instead be given fluids directly into a vein havea tube passed thr
Outlook for Hirschsprung's disease
Most children are able to pass stools normally and have a normal functioning bowel after surgery, althoughthey may take a bit longer to toilet train. Some may experience persistent constipation and n
Information about your child
If your child has been affected byHirschsprung's disease, your clinical team will pass information about him or her on to the National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Diseases Registration Service (NCARDR
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