A Clinical Case Report on Hirschsprung's Disease in an 8-Year-Old Male Child

Author(s): Khushi V Singh, Jahanvi G Kasodariya, Sahel Basharat, Mohammed Abdul Muhaimin Ali, Swati Thareja, Nanduri Bhuvaneshwari, Prajesh V Patel, Mihirkumar P Parmar*

Hirschsprung disease is a congenital disorder due to the failure of the distal colon to develop ganglion cells, hence a functional intestinal obstruction. It occurs in early childhood, with a majority of cases presented before the age of 5 years; thus, late presentation in pediatric patients is quite uncommon. This paper presents the case of an 8-year-old child who has had chronic constipation, abdominal distension, abdominal pain, and weight loss. Basic investigations like CBC, serum electrolytes, serum Widal, stool examination, urine routine, and microscopy, USG abdomen and pelvis, X-ray-standing abdominal, and girth abdominal measurements were done. MSCT of the abdomen and pelvis and a full-thickness biopsy of the rectum confirmed the disease. A definitive treatment, which is the Duhamel surgical procedure, was suggested but could not be performed as the parents declined to give their consent. To manage the symptoms and achieve feeding, he was continued on broad-spectrum antibiotics, and aggressive colonic irrigations were done. Subsequently, the patient's symptoms experienced substantial improvement. Thus, in Hirschsprung disease, early diagnosis and management improve quality of life and patient prognosis.