Understanding Hirschsprung’s Disease: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Hirschsprung’s disease is a congenital condition that primarily affects the large intestine (colon) and is characterized by the absence of nerve cells (ganglion cells) in a portion of the bowel. These nerve cells play a crucial role in regulating peristalsis—the muscular contractions that help move food and stool through the digestive tract. In the absence of these cells, the affected segment of the intestine becomes non-functional, leading to blockage, chronic constipation, and abdominal distension. During fetal development, nerve cells normally grow from the top of the gastrointestinal tract (starting at the esophagus) to the bottom (ending at the anus). In children with Hirschsprung’s disease, this migration is incomplete, leaving part of the colon without nerve cells. As a result, the muscles in that section cannot properly contract, preventing the normal movement of stool. This condition is more common in males than females and usually becomes apparent in the neonatal period. Ho...