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Hirschsprung Disease Center - Gulfport, MS

Gulfport 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

Gulfport, Mississippi

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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

Diarrhea »

Diarrhea facts

  • Diarrhea is an increase in the frequency of bowel movements, an increase in the looseness of stool or both.
  • Diarrhea is caused by increased secretion of fluid into the intestine, reduced absorption of fluid from the intestine or rapid passage of stool through the intestine.
  • Diarrhea can be defined absolutely or relatively. Absolute diarrhea is defined as more than five bowel movements a day or liquid stools. Relative diarrhea is defined as an increase in the number of bowel movements per day or an increase in the looseness of stools compared with an individual's usual bowel habit.
  • Diarrhea may be either acute or chronic, and each has different causes and treatments.
  • Complications of diarrhea include dehydration, electrolytes (mineral) abnormalities, and irritation of the anus.
  • Dehydration can be treated with oral ...

Emergency Contact for Gulfport

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Gulfport Hospitals *

Memorial Behavioral Health Gulfport
1150 Hwy 49 N
Gulfport, MS 39501
(228)831-1700

Memorial Hospital at Gulfport
4500 13th St
Gulfport, MS 39502
(228)867-4000

Garden Park Community Hospital
15200 Community Rd
Gulfport, MS 39501
(228)575-7000

Gulf Coast Medical Center
180-A Debuys Rd
Biloxi, MS 39531
(228)388-6711

Gulf Oaks Hospital
180-C DeBuys Rd
Biloxi, MS 39531
(228)388-0600

VA Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System
400 Veterans Ave
Biloxi, MS 39531
(228)523-5000

Biloxi Regional Medical Center
150 Reynoir St
Biloxi, MS 39530
(228)432-1571

Select Specialty Hospital Biloxi
648 Beach Blvd
Biloxi, MS 39530
(228)374-7474

Hancock Medical Center
149 Drinkwater Blvd
Bay Saint Louis, MS 39521
(228)467-8600

Ocean Springs Hospital
3109 Bienville Blvd
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
(228)818-1111

Stone County Hospital
1434 E Central Ave
Wiggins, MS 39577
(601)928-6600

Singing River Hospital
2809 Denny Ave
Pascagoula, MS 39581
(228)809-5000

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