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Hirschsprung Disease Center - Lake Charles, LA

Lake Charles 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

Lake Charles, Louisiana

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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 Lake Charles

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Lake Charles Hospitals *

CHRISTUS St Patrick Hospital
524 S Ryan St
Lake Charles, LA 70602
(337)436-2511

Dubuis Hospital Lake Charles
524 S Ryan St
Lake Charles, LA 70601
(337)491-7752

Extended Care of Southwest Louisiana
2837 Ernest St
Lake Charles, LA 70601
(337)436-6111

Lake Charles Memorial Hospital
1701 Oak Park Blvd
Lake Charles, LA 70601
(337)494-3000

Walter Olin Moss Regional Medical Center
1000 Walters St
Lake Charles, LA 70605
(337)475-8100

Women & Children's Hospital
4200 Nelson Rd
Lake Charles, LA 70605
(337)474-6370

Cornerstone Hospital of Southwest Louisiana
703 Cypress St
Sulphur, LA 70663
(337)527-1102

West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital
701 E Cypress St
Sulphur, LA 70663
(337)527-7034

Dequincy Memorial Hospital
110 W 4th St
Dequincy, LA 70633
(337)786-1200

Allen Parish Hospital
108 6th Ave
Kinder, LA 70648
(337)738-2527

Jennings American Legion Hospital
1634 Elton Rd
Jennings, LA 70546
(337)616-7000

Acadia Rehabilitation Hospital
1 Hospital Dr
Jennings, LA 70546
(337)821-5353

Harbor Hospital of Southeast Texas
608 Strickland Dr
Orange, TX 77630
(409)882-7200

Memorial Hermann Baptist Orange Hospital
608 Strickland Dr
Orange, TX 77630
(409)883-9361

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