MedicineNet

Hirschsprung Disease Center - Eau Claire, WI

Eau Claire Pediatric Surgeon Doctors for Hirschsprung Disease

Type 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 Eau Claire *

Marshfield Clinic Surgery
Charles W McGill
1000 N Oak Ave
Marshfield, WI 54449
(715) 387-5221

Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Upcoming Local Events

2012-06-10
Eau Claire Triathlon
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
2012-06-17
The Virtual Father's Day Run - Rice Lake
Throughout Rice Lake, Wisconsin
2012-06-17
The Virtual Father's Day Run - Eau Claire
Throughout Eau Claire, Wisconsin
2012-06-23
Circle of Life 5K/10K
Lake City, Minnesota
2012-07-15
22nd Annual Manitou Monster Swim
New Auburn, Wisconsin
2012-08-12
2012 Rochester Eco Tri
Zumbro Falls, Minnesota
2012-08-25
CIA 10Mile & 5k Run
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
2012-09-08
2012-11-11
World Run Day 2012 Registration - Eau Claire
Throughout Eau Claire, Wisconsin
2012-11-11
World Run Day 2012 Registration - Rice Lake
Throughout Rice Lake, Wisconsin

Hirschsprung's Disease

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 Disease

Intestinal Gas »

What 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...

Emergency Contact for Eau Claire

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Eau Claire Hospitals *

St Joseph's Hospital Chippewa Falls
2661 County Highway I
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729
(715)723-1811

Sacred Heart Hospital
900 W Clairemont Ave
Eau Claire, WI 54701
(715)839-4121

Luther Midelfort Hospital
1221 Whipple St
Eau Claire, WI 54703
(715)838-3311

Luther Middlefort Oakridge
13025 8th St
Osseo, WI 54758
(715)597-3121

Our Lady of Victory Hospital
1120 Pine St
Stanley, WI 54768
(715)644-5571

Bloomer Medical Center
1501 Thompson St
Bloomer, WI 54724
(715)568-2000

Tri-County Memorial Hospital
18601 Lincoln St
Whitehall, WI 54773
(715)538-4361

Red Cedar Medical Center
2321 Stout Rd
Menomonie, WI 54751
(715)235-5531

*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.

You are prohibited from using, downloading, republishing, selling, duplicating, or "scraping" for commercial or any other purpose whatsoever, the Provider Directory or any of the data listings or other information contained therein, in whole or in part, in any medium whatsoever.

The Provider Directory is provided on an "AS-IS" basis. WebMD disclaims all warranties, either express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for particular purpose. Without limiting the foregoing, WebMD does not warrant or represent that the Provider Directory or any part thereof is accurate or complete. You assume full responsibility for the communications with any Provider you contact through the Provider Directory. WebMD shall in no event be liable to you or to anyone for any decision made or action taken by you in the reliance on information provided in the Provider Directory.

The use of WebMD Provider Directory by any entity or individual to verify the credentials of Providers is prohibited. The database of Provider information which drives WebMD Provider Directory does not contain sufficient information with which to verify Provider credentials under the standards of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) of the Utilization Review Accreditation Committee (URAC).

By using the WebMD Provider Directory, you agree to these Terms and Conditions.