Symptoms
Symptoms of Hirschsprung's disease vary depending on the child's age, when the symptoms are recognized, the amount of intestine affected, and whether complications are present.
In a newborn (birth to age 1 month), the major signs and symptoms include:
- A delay in passing the first stool (meconium) after birth. Healthy newborns usually pass stool within the first 24 hours after birth. A delay is common in Hirschsprung's disease.
- Constipation. The newborn does not have regular bowel movements.
- Vomiting.
- Refusing to eat.
- A swollen abdomen, which may cause the baby to breathe fast and grunt when breathing.
In an infant (age 1 month to 1 year), the major signs and symptoms include:
- Slower-than-expected weight gain.
- Constipation.
- A swollen abdomen.
- Episodes of diarrhea and vomiting.
In a child (age 1 year or older), the major signs and symptoms include:
- Constipation, with the passage of ribbon-like, foul-smelling stool or with large amounts of hard stool becoming stuck in and blocking the large intestine (impaction).
- A swollen abdomen.
- Poor appetite and poor growth.
A serious condition called Hirschsprung's-associated enterocolitis (HAEC) may occur in some children who have Hirschsprung's disease. The small and large intestines may become inflamed. And a hole (perforation) may form in the large intestine, causing stool to leak inside the abdomen. HAEC requires emergency surgery.
Other conditions with similar symptoms include a tumor or cyst on or in the intestines or a blockage that occurs when meconium becomes stuck in the baby's bowel (meconium plug syndrome).
