{"id":5452,"date":"2019-04-11T14:15:11","date_gmt":"2019-04-11T14:15:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=5452"},"modified":"2021-06-02T13:42:23","modified_gmt":"2021-06-02T13:42:23","slug":"14-signs-and-symptoms-of-hirschsprung-disease-in-infants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/14-signs-and-symptoms-of-hirschsprung-disease-in-infants\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Signs and Symptoms of Hirschsprung Disease in Infants"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Hirschsprung disease is a disorder that causes infants to be unable to make a bowel movement. The large intestine or colon causes problems with passing a stool. There are missing nerve cells in the baby\u2019s colon muscles. It is noticed at birth that a baby has Hirschsprung disease because he or she has symptoms a few days after being born. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Surgery is the only course of action to get rid of the diseased part of the colon. There are eight signs and symptoms to look out for after giving birth to see if the baby has Hirschsprung disease. It can be stressful on the parents during this time, but once the diseased colon is treated, the baby will be able to make bowel movements and live a happy life. Your baby will be no different than a healthy baby. He or she is special in their own way. They just need extra care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Failure to make a bowel movement <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

is the most common sign that your infant has Hirschsprung disease. A bowel movement needs to be made at least 48 hours after birth. When no bowel movement is made the baby will be cranky because there is some pain. Surgery <\/a>will need to be done in order to get the infant to make a bowel movement. Once the surgery is completed, the infant will be fine. This usually occurs in male infants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is not to say that all male babies have this disorder, but this is something to look out for. It is curable through surgery and the baby will live a normal life. It\u2019s good that the surgery is done while they\u2019re an infant instead of later in life. If it happens later in life, it may cause other symptoms that may be difficult to cure as easily. Parents shouldn\u2019t worry because the child will thrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Swollen belly <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

is a sign that your baby has Hirschsprung disease. Parents think it\u2019s cute when their baby has a big belly, but more could be going on with your child than you think. When your baby has a swollen belly, it won\u2019t go away on its own. It\u2019s important to take your baby in to see their pediatrician <\/a>who can examine the infant to see what is going on with him or her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If Hirschsprung disease is diagnosed, then the pediatrician will discuss with the parents what the next steps are. It\u2019s important that the parents do everything that the pediatrician says that the infant can get treatment as soon as possible. The baby can\u2019t be feeling well if he or she has a swollen belly. An infant can\u2019t tell its parents that they\u2019re in pain. You, as the parent have to make the right decisions for the baby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Constipation <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Is a symptom that an infant will have when he or she has Hirschsprung disease. Since the infant can\u2019t make a bowel movement, he or she is constipated. The baby will be fussy all of the time because their bowels aren\u2019t moving properly. Constipation <\/a>can cause pain and cramping. New parents may not know what is going on with their baby, so it\u2019s up to them to take the child to the hospital to get the help that is needed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The baby may be given medicine to help with their constipation, but with Hirschsprung disease, surgery is needed. The doctor will discuss with the parents what type of surgery is needed since there are two types available. The infant will need to stay in the hospital to recover and to allow the doctors to keep watchful on him or her. The surgery will help with the constipation problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Gas <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

is another symptom that babies have when they have the disease. They are gassy, but nothing comes out. Even when they are releasing gas, they will still be fussy because they\u2019re not making a bowel <\/a>movement. Parents will try to place the baby over their shoulder to try to help with the gas problem. It won\u2019t help with Hirschsprung disease. The infant could be having pain as a result of having gas and not being able to make a bowel movement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The gas will remain until the surgery is done. After the procedure, the baby should start to get some relief and the gas will go away. The infant should have regular bowel movements, but during their stay in the hospital the baby will be monitored. Parents will need to make sure they take their baby to every follow up to ensure that the baby\u2019s bowels are moving correctly and that everything is healing properly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Vomiting <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

occurs when an infant has Hirschsprung disease. A lot of the times when there is no bowel movement, it will come out through the mouth. The infant is probably packed with stools and the only way it can come out is through vomiting<\/a>. The vomit is usually green or brown. The child needs to seek medical attention right away because vomit shouldn\u2019t be that color. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, a baby shouldn\u2019t be vomiting at all, especially if you notice the infant hasn\u2019t made a bowel movement in days. As soon as you take the infant to the ER, the sooner you can have your baby back home. The doctors catch Hirschsprung disease before the infant leaves the hospital after you give birth, they can go ahead and start working on the infant\u2019s colon. The infant is likely having discomfort and feeling bad. The longer you wait, the worse it will be for the infant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Diarrhea <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

is a symptom that most infants have when they have Hirschsprung disease. It is common that the infant is still having a bowel movement, but it\u2019s constant. They can\u2019t stop making one. Even when they\u2019re not eating, they are still making a bowel movement. Parents should take the child to their pediatrician or the emergency room because this is not normal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a reason the infant is having diarrhea and it\u2019s because of him or her having Hirschsprung disease. Even though the child is having a bowel movement, he or she will still be cranky. Any time a baby is going through any type of problem with their body, there will be some crankiness. Doctors are available to take care of the baby, so that diarrhea <\/a>will cease. The doctors will let you know what type of bowel movement is normal and how often one needs to be made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Leaking stool <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

occurs when Hirschsprung’s disease is in an infant. When there are leaky stools because the bowels are unable to move properly. There will be some discomfort when this occurs. If the baby is having gas, stools will be leaky. Medical professionals will need to go inside to fix the colon, so that the stools are not leaky and regular bowel movements can be made. When the stools are leaky, check to see what color they are. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The stools are more than likely a different color. Some parents may think that their baby is having this problem because of something he or she ate. The leaky stools will remain until the surgery is done. There is no way around it. Surgery <\/a>is the only course of action to help with their bowel movements. Once the surgery is complete, they will be able to make a bowel movement and live a normal life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Fatigue <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

can occur in infants if they are suffering from Hirschsprung disease. It\u2019s common for infants to sleep all of the time, so this symptom can be overlooked. When it\u2019s time for the infant to see, he or she will still be tired. It is a good idea to take your infant to the hospital if this happens all of the time. You shouldn\u2019t wait too long to get help because Hirschsprung disease can get worse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your baby shouldn\u2019t be tired when you feed him or her. There should be times when the baby is up and playing. As soon as you get the baby to the emergency room, the doctors will take blood and imaging tests. They will take the necessary steps to begin healing your baby. The surgery time varies. After the doctor releases the baby, you should start to notice that your baby is more playful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9.    Dehydration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Children with Hirschsprung disease may develop symptoms of nausea and vomiting. When they vomit, the child loses body fluids, minerals, and electrolytes in the purge. Unfortunately, this may lead to the child showing signs of dehydration. Dehydration is one of the more severe complications associated with Hirschsprung disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should the child fail to replenish their levels of minerals and electrolytes, they run the risk of developing a mineral imbalance. Minerals and electrolytes are responsible for maintaining the ph levels of the body, and as a result of the mineral imbalance, the child may start to experience seizures. Seizures are a severe danger for children and adults and may result in brain damage or death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors recommend that parents rehydrate kids using specialized formulas fortified with minerals and electrolytes to compensate for their loss during bouts of vomiting. It\u2019s vital that parents don\u2019t let their children drink energy drinks like Gatorade, as the sugar in these drinks may exacerbate their symptoms.
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10.    Seizures<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The body relies on a delicate balance of minerals to produce electrolytes. The most common minerals used in the process of creating electrolytes are;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    calcium<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    chloride<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    magnesium<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    phosphate<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    potassium<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    sodium<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These electrolytes exist in our body fluids, and when we vomit or experience diarrhea, we purge these fluids from our body, resulting in an electrolyte imbalance. Patients with Hirschsprung disease need to replace these electrolytes, or they run the risk of developing a seizure from the imbalance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In most cases, seizures are not life-threatening, but should the electrolyte imbalance be severe, then the intensity and frequency of the seizures will start to increase. Eventually, the patient will receive a seizure that results in brain damage, or even death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your child is not able to hold liquids down for a period exceeding 24-hours, it\u2019s advisable to take them to the hospital for treatment. The doctor will hook them up to an IV that delivers fluids and minerals back into their system.
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11.    Sleep Deprivation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Children dealing with Hirschsprung disease may find it difficult to fall asleep. When your tummy is hurting, and you feel like throwing up all the time, it\u2019s understandable why kids may have trouble with getting the rest they need to recover from the disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we sleep, our brain restores its cognitive abilities by ridding the neural pathways of toxins <\/a>accumulated during the day. When we don\u2019t get enough sleep, or we toss and turn throughout the night, then we won\u2019t be able to clear these neural pathways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sleep plays a vital role in our health. Any disturbances to out sleeping patterns produces adverse health consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, the child may feel cranky or fatigued the following morning, resulting in irritable behavior and crying. In most cases, the symptoms fade in a few days, and the child will return to their regular sleeping and behavioral habits after the infection clears.
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12.    Crying<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Young children can’t yet speak. It takes anywhere up to a year for the child to develop speech, and then another further year or two for the kid to learn the vocabulary necessary to communicate with their parents. In the meantime, they rely on facial expressions and emotional outbursts to deliver their message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Infants or young children with Hirschsprung disease may cry all the time due to their intensity of pain symptoms affecting their tummy. As the signs of constipation <\/a>increase, the child increases their crying to let the parents know something is wrong with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most parents will be aware that their child is constipated, and the crying symptoms should be the sign they need to whisk their child off to the emergency room. Doctors may treat the symptoms of constipation using laxatives to help the baby pass the stool. In most cases, the child makes a full recovery from the effects, with no lasting damage to the digestive system.
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13. Enterocolitis <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Babies and young children that develop Hirschsprung disease may experience a host of complications that affect the digestive system<\/a>. One of the most common complications associated with the condition is, \u201cNecrotizing enterocolitis,\u201d or NEC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NEC occurs when the child experiences inflammation or injury to the tissues in the large or small intestines, resulting in cell and tissue death in the digestive tract which causes necrosis or a hole in the intestinal wall. This situation is life-threatening to children, and they require immediate hospitalization to remove the affected area of the intestines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should the baby not receive treatment in time, bacteria, viruses, and fungi may pass through the hole in the intestines, infecting the bloodstream. The pathogens then spread to other areas of the body through the circulatory system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Infants with NEC may exhibit symptoms of a red and swollen belly, along with persistent crying and constipation. The child may refuse to feed, and they become lethargic or unresponsive to your visual and physical cues.
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14.    Toxic Megacolon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

NEC is not the only complication associated with Hirschsprung disease. Babies that don\u2019t receive treatment in time may end up developing NEC. While NEC is a dangerous and potentially lethal condition, it can produce another adverse health disorder known as, \u201ctoxic megacolon.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Babies who develop toxic megacolon, experience acute toxic colitis <\/a>along with extreme colon dilatation. This dilation can either have a segmental or total effect on the colon, resulting in non-obstructive colonic dilatation which is more significant than 2.5-inches in diameter. This symptom is a sign of systemic toxicity and requires immediate hospitalization to avoid the severe consequences of this complication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also known as, \u201ctoxic colitis,\u201d this complication of Hirschsprung disease has potential life-threatening complications where the intestines allow pathogens to enter the bloodstream through the permeable intestinal wall, resulting in systemic infection and further complications with a variety of health disorders. If you notice any signs of toxic megacolon or NEC, rush your child to the emergency room as soon as possible.
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