Congenital Megacolon

Congenital megacolon, also known as Hirschsprung disease, is an abnormality present from birth in which the group of nerves that controls the movement of a segment of the large intestine is missing, which prevents the normal passage of stool.

Common symptoms: in newborns, delay in the first bowel movement, abdominal distension, and vomiting; in older children, marked constipation and difficulty growing adequately.

When to see a doctor? When a baby does not have normal bowel movements in its first days or has a very distended abdomen, an early evaluation is worthwhile.

Which specialist treats it? The pediatric surgeon is the one who studies and manages this condition, in coordination with the pediatrician who follows the child's development.