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Hirschsprung's disease

Background

Hirschsprung disease: Hirschsprung's disease; Aganglionosis

Hirschsprung's disease (HD) affects 1 in 4,500 live births throughout the world. In the UK, this equates to about 150 to 200 new cases of HD each year.

HD affects the nerves of the large intestine (colon). The main function of the colon is to conserve water and salt, to store faecal material (stool), and to regulate its release from the body. Normally, special nerve cells (ganglion cells) control the pushing movement of muscles in the colon and push stool to the anus where it is expelled from the body.

What are the symptoms? View What are the symptoms?

Medical text written January 2003 by Contact a Family. Approved January 2003 by Professor P Milla, Professor of Paediatric Gastroenteritis and Nutrition, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK. Last updated November 2006 by Dr Nikhil Thapar, Clinician Scientist and Honorary Consultant in Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK.

 

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