Hirschsprung Disease Center - Clearwater, FL
Clearwater 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 Clearwater * Pediatric Surgical Group  Pediatric Surgical Group  Cardiac Surgical Associates  Cardiac Surgical Associates  Cardiac Surgical Associates  John P Coughlin MD  Tampa Bay Specialty Services  Tampa Bay Specialty Services  Sarasota Orthopaedic Associates Clearwater, FloridaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-09
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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 Clearwater
Nearby Clearwater Hospitals *Morton Plant Hospital HEALTHSOUTH Rehabilitation Hospital of Largo Mease Dunedin Hospital Largo Medical Center Windmoor Healthcare of Clearwater Sun Coast Hospital Mease Countryside Hospital Bay Pines VA Healthcare System Northside Hospital & Tampa Bay Heart Institute  Helen Ellis Memorial Hospital  St Petersburg General Hospital  Town & Country Hospital  Palms of Pasadena Hospital  Edward White Hospital  St Anthony's Hospital  Bayfront Medical Center  All Children's Hospital  Kindred Hospital Tampa  University Community Hospital Carrollwood  Kindred Hospital St Petersburg  St Joseph's Children's Hospital of Tampa  St Joseph's Hospital  St Joseph's Women's Hospital  Memorial Hospital of Tampa  Community Hospital of New Port Richey  Kindred Hospital Central Tampa  Morton Plant North Bay Hospital  Tampa General Hospital  Shriners Hospital for Children  James A Haley VA Medical Center  University Community Hospital  H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute  Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point  Brandon Regional Hospital  South Bay 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. |
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