Patient's question:
My child hasn't had a bowel movement for several days since birth. The doctor said it might be congenital megacolon. I don't know how to treat it.Doctor's answer:
Hirschsprung's disease is a common congenital malformation of the gastrointestinal tract and has a certain family genetic tendency. Currently, it is generally believed that Hirschsprung's disease is caused by genetic and environmental factors, resulting from transient ischemia and hypoxia of the embryonic intestine under the condition of polygenic genetic factors. The pathological changes are the lack of ganglion cells in the myenteric and submucosal plexuses of the intestinal wall, an increase and thickening of unmyelinated parasympathetic nerve fibers, which is a developmental arrest. Due to the lack of ganglion cells, sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve dysfunction and peptide nerve deficiency can occur. The smooth surface of the affected intestinal metaplasia continues to contract in a spastic state, with the normal peristalsis of the intestine disappearing, leading to functional intestinal obstruction. The child should ideally undergo a thorough examination before receiving treatment.