Diseases

Hirschsprung disease

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Hirschsprung (hersh-sproong) disease affects the large intestine (colon) of newborns, babies, and toddlers. The condition — which prevents bowel movements (stool) to pass through the intestines due to missing nerve cells in the lower part of the colon — is caused by a birth defect

SYMPTOMS

Swollen belly
Vomiting, including vomiting a green or brown substance
Constipation or gas, which might make a newborn fussy
Diarrhea

CAUSES

It's not clear what causes hirschsprung's disease. It sometimes occurs in families and might, in some cases, be associated with a genetic mutation. Hirschsprung's disease occurs when nerve cells in the colon don't form completely. Nerves in Thecolon control the muscle contractions that move food through the bowels