Symptoms of Hirschsprung's Disease

Symptoms of Hirschsprung's disease can differ by age group, although the disease usually becomes apparent when a person is still an infant. Newborns with the disease typically don't have their first bowel movement when they should. Symptoms of Hirschsprung's disease in children often include a history of severe problems with constipation, anemia, or more diarrhea than usual. This is also true for teens and adults with the condition.

Hirschsprung Disease

Symptoms of Hirschsprung's Disease: An Overview

Symptoms of Hirschsprung's disease usually show up in very young children. But sometimes, they don't appear until the person is a teenager or an adult. The symptoms tend to vary among the different age groups.

Symptoms of Hirschsprung's Disease in Newborns

Newborns with Hirschsprung's disease don't have their first bowel movement when they should. These babies may also throw up a green liquid called bile after eating, and their abdomens may swell. Discomfort from gas or constipation might make them fussy. Sometimes, babies with Hirschsprung's disease develop infections in their intestines.

Symptoms of Hirschsprung's Disease in Young Children

Most children with Hirschsprung's disease have always had severe problems with constipation. Some also have more diarrhea than usual. Children with Hirschsprung's disease might also have anemia, which is a shortage of red blood cells, because blood is lost in the stool. In addition, many babies with Hirschsprung's disease grow and develop more slowly than they should.

Symptoms of Hirschsprung's Disease in Teenagers and Adults

Like younger children, teenagers and adults with Hirschsprung's disease usually have had severe constipation all of their lives. They might also have anemia.