Hirschsprung Disease Center - Harrisburg, PA
Harrisburg 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 Harrisburg * Pinnacle Health Pediatric Surgery Assoc  Hershey Medical Center  Penn State Hershey Medical Center Neurosurgery  Hershey Medical Center  Hershey Medical Center  Hershey Medical Center  Shamokin Pediatrics  Geisinger Medical Center General Surgery  LVPG Pediatric Surgery  LVPG Pediatric Surgery  LVPG Pediatric Surgery Harrisburg, PennsylvaniaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-03
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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 DiseaseDiarrhea facts
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Nearby Harrisburg Hospitals *Harrisburg Hospital Polyclinic Hospital Holy Spirit Hospital Select Specialty Hospital Camp Hill Community General Osteopathic Hospital Pinnacle Health Helen M Simpson Rehabilitation Hospital HEALTHSOUTH Mechanicsburg Rehabilitation Hospital HEALTHSOUTH Regional Specialty Hospital Penn State Hershey Medical Center Penn State Children's Hospital Carlisle Regional Medical Center  HEALTHSOUTH Rehabilitation Hospital of York  Philhaven  Memorial Hospital  York Hospital  The Good Samaritan Hospital  Lebanon VA Medical Center  Lancaster General Women & Babies Hospital  Lancaster Rehabilitation Hospital  Heart of Lancaster Regional Medical Center  Hanover Hospital  Lancaster Regional Medical Center  Lancaster General 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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