Q and A regarding Hirschsprung's Disease
Hirschsprung’s Disease in Newborns Questions 1. What are the characteristic presenting features in neonates with Hirschsprung’s disease (HD)? 2. What are the types of Hirschsprung’s disease? 3. What is the initial treatment? 4. How is Hirschsprung’s disease diagnosed? 5. What are the surgical options? 6. What are the long-term sequlae? 7. What are the associated anomalies? Answers 1. The presenting features of HD vary depending on the length of the aganglionic segment and the severity. The gestational age at delivery also influences the clinical features, as HD rarely presents in preterm babies. The several methods in which neonatal HD present are: 1. Delayed passage of meconium: In healthy term neonates, delay of more than 48 hours is indicative of HD though this feature occurs in only about 50% of neonates with HD. In preterm babies, delayed passage of meconium is normally seen hence this feature can