Early diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease in children with prolonged constipation

Thanh Thanh |

Every year, many children, from newborns to older children, are hospitalized and have surgery due to Hirschsprung's disease. When children have persistent constipation, despite medication and dietary changes, but still do not respond, parents need to immediately take their children to a medical facility for appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

Boy N.V (4 years old, Binh Phuoc province) was admitted to Children's Hospital 2 in Ho Chi Minh City due to prolonged constipation. Family members said that the child had been treated in many places but there was no improvement. The child could not defecate on his own and had to use laxatives daily, combined with rectal pumps or enemas. The condition had lasted since birth, causing V to have poor appetite, poor absorption, malnutrition, and a constantly distended abdomen due to feces stagnation in the colon.

At the hospital, the patient underwent a contrast colon X-ray and a rectal suction biopsy. The biopsy results showed that the child had Hirschsprung's disease (congenital megacolon) in a short segment. The rectum near the anus had no nerve ganglion cells, which caused prolonged constipation. The patient underwent surgery to remove the diseased segment of intestine. One month after surgery, V had bowel movements almost like a normal child, and his malnutrition gradually improved.

According to Dr. Pham Ngoc Thach - Deputy Director of Children's Hospital 2, every year, the hospital receives and performs surgery on 250 - 300 cases of Hirschsprung's disease from infants to older children. Therefore, parents should note that when children have prolonged constipation and have been treated with medication, changed their diet... but still do not respond, they should be taken to pediatric surgeons for appropriate diagnosis and treatment to avoid dangerous complications.

Doctor Thach also informed that constipation is a common disease in children. However, when the condition persists and is not treated promptly, it can lead to poor absorption of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. More dangerously, it can lead to severe enteritis, intestinal obstruction, intestinal perforation, etc. Currently, the treatment of constipation in children can be divided into two methods, including medical constipation (medical treatment) and surgical constipation (surgical treatment).

In which, internal medicine constipation includes functional constipation due to children holding in bowel movements, inappropriate diet, low fiber intake, lack of water, lack of exercise; some diseases such as hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, diabetes, diseases related to the nervous system such as cerebral palsy, psychomotor retardation... Internal medicine constipation treatment includes changing diet, practicing bowel habits, drinking plenty of water, increasing exercise, if not responding, you can give your child laxatives, anal enema to stimulate bowel movements.

Surgical constipation includes common diseases such as Hirschsprung's disease, anal position abnormalities. Hirschsprung's disease is usually detected in newborns, infants, and sometimes in older children. Common symptoms are constipation that does not respond to medical treatment, sometimes children are hospitalized with severe enteritis or intestinal perforation, which is life-threatening.

Thanh Thanh
TIN LIÊN QUAN

Why raisins help treat constipation

|

Raisins are rich in fiber, polyphenols and sorbitol, three components known to aid bowel movements and treat constipation.

Complications of constipation

|

Constipation can cause digestive disorders and is one of the main causes of hernias, says Dr. Sandeep Aggarwal.

employee of Nam Dinh General Hospital assaulted

|

Nam Dinh - An employee of Nam Dinh General Hospital was suddenly assaulted by a young man while working at the Resuscitation Department.

People in the Nam Son landfill area have lived in pollution for 20 years, now they see a ray of hope

|

After 2 decades of living in the stench from the largest landfill in the capital, hundreds of households in Nam Son commune are about to move to new places with more satisfactory compensation plans.

4 Vietnamese people found dead in Taiwan (China)

|

The death of 4 Vietnamese people in Taiwan (China) is likely due to poisoning.

Tu Lien Bridge will start construction on the occasion of the 80th Anniversary of Vietnam National Day

|

The Prime Minister said that among the 80 works and projects that were started and inaugurated on the occasion of the 80th Anniversary of National Day, there is Tu Lien Bridge (Hanoi City).

List of collectives and individuals expected to be honored in the Vinh Quang Vietnam 2025 Program

|

On the afternoon of April 28, 2025, the Council for selecting collectives and individuals to be honored in the Vinh Quang Vietnam 2025 Program met and reviewed the nominated characters from central departments, ministries and branches. It is expected to select the following collectives and individuals to consider and honor in the Vinh Quang Vietnam 2025 Program.

Why raisins help treat constipation

BẢO NGỌC (THEO EATINGWELL) |

Raisins are rich in fiber, polyphenols and sorbitol, three components known to aid bowel movements and treat constipation.

Complications of constipation

NGỌC THÙY (THEO indianexpress) |

Constipation can cause digestive disorders and is one of the main causes of hernias, says Dr. Sandeep Aggarwal.

4 loại trà thảo mộc trị táo bón hiệu quả

Cao Thơm (HEALTHSHOTS) |

Trà thảo mộc làm giảm táo bón vì chúng chứa các thành phần có đặc tính nhuận tràng, kích thích hệ tiêu hóa.