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Congenital Aganglionic Megacolon - Hirschsprung Disease


Symptoms & Signs

What are the signs and symptoms of the disease?

Indications of this disease usually begin within a few days after birth.

Rarely, symptoms do not appear until childhood or even adulthood. In an infant, symptoms include:

  • not passing the first bowel movement, called meconium, within the first 24 to 48 hours after birth
  • difficulty having a bowel movement
  • watery stools if bowel movements do occur
  • swelling of the abdomen
  • vomiting
  • rapid breathing as the disease progresses
  • irritability
  • In older children symptoms include:

  • passing small, ribbon-like, or watery stools. Stools are passed only rarely.
  • chronic constipation
  • lack of appetite
  • poor weight gain
  • decreased rate of growth

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