Conditions listing Hirschsprung's disease as a symptom may also be potential underlying causes of Hirschsprung's disease. Our database lists the following as having Hirschsprung's disease as a symptom of that condition:
Causes: Hirschsprung's disease:
Congenital absence of nerves in part of the colon, from unclear causes. Some cases are genetic but others are not.
HD develops before a child is born. Normally, nerve cells grow in the
baby's intestine soon after the baby begins to grow in the womb. These
nerve cells grow down from the top of the intestine all the way to the
anus. With HD, the nerve cells stop growing before they reach the end.
No one knows why the nerve cells stop growing. But we do know that it's
not the mother's fault. HD isn't caused by anything the mother did while
she was pregnant.
(Source: excerpt from What I need to know about Hirschsprung's disease: NIDDK)
As with all medical conditions, there may be many causal factors. Further relevant information on causes of Hirschsprung's disease may be found in:
16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the causes of Hirschsprung's disease.
In Hirschsprung’s disease, the aganglionic bowel segment contracts without the reciprocal relaxation needed to propel feces forward. In 90% of patients, this aganglionic segment is in the rectosigmoid area, but it occasionally extends to the entire colon and parts of the small intestine.
Hirschsprung’s disease is believed to be a familial, congenital defect. It’s up to 5 times more common in males than in females. The disease typically coexists with other congenital anomalies, particularly trisomy 21 and anomalies of the urinary tract such as megaloureter.
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
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