Hirschsprung Disease Center - Chapel Hill, NC
Chapel Hill Pediatric Surgeon Doctors for Hirschsprung DiseaseType of Physician: Pediatric Surgeon What is a Pediatric Surgeon? A subspecialty certification by the Board of Surgery; practitioners are skilled in the management of surgical conditions in premature and newborn infants, children, and adolescents. Specialty: Pediatric Surgery Common Name: Children's Surgeon Pediatric Surgeon Doctors in Chapel Hill * Duke Hospital Pediatric Surgery  Duke Hospital Pediatric Surgery  Wake Faculty Physicians Pediatric Surgery  WFUBMC Surgery  WFUBMC Surgery  WFUBMC Surgery Chapel Hill, North CarolinaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-16
2012-06-16
2012-06-17
2012-06-17
2012-06-17
2012-07-20
2012-08-04
2012-08-25
2012-09-08
2012-09-22
Hirschsprung's DiseaseRead the Hirschsprung's Disease article » What is Hirschsprung's disease?Hirschsprung's (HURSH-sprungz) disease, or HD, is a disease of the large intestine. The large intestine is also sometimes called the colon. The word bowel can refer to the large and small intestines. Hirschsprung's disease usually occurs in children. It causes constipation, which means that bowel movements are difficult. Some children with Hirschsprung's disease can't have bowel movements at all. The stool creates a blockage in the intestine. If Hirschsprung's disease is not treated, stool can fill up the large intestine. This can cause serious problems like infection, bursting of the colon, and even death. Most parents feel frightened when they learn that their child has a serious disease. This information will help you understand Hirschsprung's disease and how you and the doctor can help your child.
Why does Hirschsprung's disease cause constipation?Normally, muscles in the intestine push stool to the anus, where stool leaves the body. Special nerve cells in the intestine, called ganglion cells, make the muscles push. A person with Hirschsprung's disease does not have these nerve cells in the last part of the large intestine. Healthy large intestine: Nerve cells are found throughout the intestine.
Hirschsprung's disease large intestine: Nerve cells are missing from the last part of the intestine.
In a person with Hirschsprung's disease, the healthy muscles of the intestine push the stool until it reaches the part without the nerve cells. At this point, the stool stops moving. New stool then begins to stack up behind it. Sometimes the ganglion cells are missing from the whole large intestine and even parts of the small intestine before it. When the diseased section reaches to or includes the small intestine, it is called long-segment disease. When the di... Recommended Reading Related to Hirschsprung's DiseaseWhat causes belching?The ability to belch is almost universal. Belching, also known as burping (medically referred to as eructation), is the act of expelling gas from the stomach out through the mouth. The usual cause of belching is a distended (inflated) stomach caused by swallowed air. The distention of the stomach causes abdominal discomfort, and the belching expels the air and relieves the discomfort. The common reasons for swallowing large amounts of air (aerophagia) are gulping food or drink too rapidly, anxiety, and carbonated beverages. People are often unaware that they are swallowing air. "Burping" infants during bottle or breastfeeding is important in order to expel air in the stomach that has been swallowed with the formula or milk. Excessive air in the stomach is not the only cause of belching. For some people, belching becomes a habit and does not reflect the amount of air in their stomachs. For others, belching is a response to an... Other Related Hirschsprung Disease ArticlesEmergency Contact for Chapel Hill
Nearby Chapel Hill Hospitals *UNC Health Care Duke University Medical Center Durham VA Medical Center Durham Regional Hospital Select Specialty Hospital Durham North Carolina Specialty Hospital  WakeMed Cary Hospital  Rex Healthcare  John Umstead Hospital  Duke Raleigh Hospital  Chatham Hospital  Alamance Regional Medical Center  WakeMed Raleigh Campus  Holly Hill Hospital  Central Carolina Hospital  Person Memorial Hospital Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
Suggested Reading on Hirschsprung's Disease by Our Doctors
-
Related Diseases & Conditions
10 articles-
Constipation
- Constipation is defined medically as fewer than three stools per week and severe constipation as less than one stool per week. Constipation usually is caused by the slow movement of stool through the colon. There are many causes of constipation including medications, poor bowel habits, low fiber diets, abuse of laxatives, hormonal disorders, and diseases primarily of other parts of the body that also affect the colon.
-
Fever
- Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 degrees F. (37 degrees C.), in practice a person is usually not considered to have a significant fever until the temperature is above 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C.). Fever is part of the body's own disease-fighting arsenal: rising body temperatures apparently are capable of killing off many disease- producing organisms.
-
Intestinal Gas
- Gas or "intestinal gas" means different things to different people. Everyone has gas and eliminates it by belching or farting (passing it through the rectum).
-
Diarrhea
- Diarrhea is a change is the frequency and looseness of bowel movements. Cramping, abdominal pain, and the sensation of rectal urgency are all symptoms of diarrhea. Absorbents and anti-motility medications are used to treat diarrhea.
-
Abdominal Pain
- Abdominal pain is pain in the belly and can be acute or chronic. Causes include inflammation, distention of an organ, and loss of the blood supply to an organ. Abdominal pain can reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the abdomen such as the appendix, gallbladder, large and small intestine, pancreas, liver, colon, duodenum, and spleen.
-
Down Syndrome
- Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder that results in the presence of an additional third chromosome 21, also referred to as trisomy 21. Most individuals with Down syndrome have widely recognizable physical characteristics. The severity of Down syndrome ranges from mild to severe. Diagnostic testing for Down syndrome include amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling, and percutaneous umbilical cord sampling. The most common risk factor for Down syndrome is a woman's age.
-
Teens
- Teenagers recognize that they are developmentally between child and adult. Teen health prevention includes maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, preventing injuries and screening annually for potential health conditions that could adversely affect teenage health.
-
Anemia
- Anemia is the condition of having less than the normal number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. The oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood is, therefore, decreased. Symptoms of anemia may include fatigue, malaise, hair loss, palpitations, and more. Treatment for anemia includes treating the underlying cause for the condition. Iron supplements, vitamin B12 injections, and certain medications may also be necessary.
-
Diaper Rash
- A diaper rash is a skin irritation that develops in the diaper-covered region. Most diaper rashes are caused by bacterial or yeast infections, though some may be caused by contact dermatitis or allergic reactions to the diapers and wipes. Cleansing with water and soft cloths, followed by application of petroleum jelly or zinc oxide and frequent diaper changes is the best treatment for a diaper rash.
-
Children's Health
- Children's health is focused on the well-being of children from conception through adolescence. There are many aspects of children's health, including growth and development, illnesses, injuries, behavior, mental illness, family health and community health.
-
Constipation
-
Medications
0 articles -
Procedures & Tests
4 articles -
Pictures, Images & Quizzes
1 articles -
Doctor's & Expert's Views
1 articles -
Health News
0 articles -
Health Features
0 articles
