When can baby's congenital megacolon be seen?

Hirschsprung's disease can usually be detected in the neonatal period, but if the symptoms are mild or atypical, it may take several months or even longer to be diagnosed. Parents should pay close attention to the baby's bowel movements and whether there are abnormal symptoms such as abdominal distension, and seek medical examination in time to confirm the diagnosis and take treatment.

1Possible manifestations and time of discovery

The most common manifestation of Hirschsprung's disease in the neonatal period is delayed or absent meconium excretion. Normal newborns should excrete meconium within 24-48 hours after birth, but be alert if anything unusual occurs. Symptoms may include persistent constipation, abdominal distension, vomiting, and slow growth. Mild cases may have no obvious symptoms, and parents may not gradually become aware of their child's defecation problems until they start adding complementary foods.

2 Causes and diagnosis methods

Hirschsprung's disease is a congenital disease that mainly causes intestinal motility disorders due to abnormal development of intestinal ganglion cells. Its risk factors include family inheritance or fetal developmental abnormalities. Diagnosis usually requires a combination of clinical manifestations and medical imaging examinations, such as intestinal X-ray angiography, rectal suction biopsy or pressure measurement to confirm the extent of the loss of intestinal ganglion cells.

3 Treatment methods and nursing recommendations

The core of treating Hirschsprung's disease is to surgically remove the diseased intestinal segment lacking ganglion cells to make the intestines unobstructed. Common surgical methods include: rectal mucosal resection, transanal intestinal resection or laparoscopic-assisted surgery. If the condition is mild or surgery has not yet been performed, the doctor may recommend methods such as anal venting and cleansing enema to relieve symptoms. In home care, parents need to pay attention to burping the baby correctly after feeding to avoid abdominal distension or vomiting. Babies after surgery need regular follow-up to avoid postoperative complications such as intestinal stenosis or infection.

Early detection and accurate diagnosis are the key to the treatment of Hirschsprung's disease. If your baby is found to have symptoms such as constipation and bloating, you should seek medical attention immediately and have a professional evaluation to clarify the situation. If parents actively cooperate with the medical team, the baby's prognosis is usually good, and most children can resume normal life and growth and development after surgery.