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What Is The Best Diet For Hirschsprung’s Disease?

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Hirschsprung’s disease is characterized by the absence of nerve cells in intestine. This results in infrequent bowel movement.[1] Thus, diet should be such that it manages bowel frequency.

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What Is The Best Diet For Hirschsprung's Disease?
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What Is The Best Diet For Hirschsprung’s Disease?

Diet for Hirschsprung’s disease depends upon the condition of the patient. Hirschsprung’s disease may cause constipation of loose motion and the diet of the patient should be managed according to the presented symptoms. Thus, there is no exhaustive list of the diet ingredients that fits to all the patients suffering from Hirschsprung’s disease. Following are the ingredients that may be incorporated in the diet of the patient depending upon whether the patient has diarrhea or constipation:

High-Fiber: High fiber diet is used in the patients suffering form constipation. These fibers absorb water, swell and form the bulk thereby relieving the patients from constipation.

Plenty Of Liquid: Intake of high quality fluid specifically water helps to relive the constipation occurring due to Hirschsprung’s disease.[2]

Milk And Milk Products: Milk and milk products are used in patients suffering from diarrhea. Rice milk is used to relive the diarrhea caused due to Hirschsprung’s disease.[3]

Fruits: Fruits such as apple (without skin) and banana can be used to manage both diarrhea and constipation due to Hirschsprung’s disease.

Fats And Oils: Fats and oils can be avoided but if required, amount used should be limited.

Grains: Brains and breads can be used to manage diarrhea. Rice and corn flakes can be used in the patients suffering from diarrhea due to Hirschsprung’s disease.

Juices: Apple juice can be effective in treating the condition of constipation. They help in increasing the bowl volume.

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Chocolate: Chocolate can also be used in the management of constipation caused due to Hirschsprung’s disease.[4]

Spicy Food: Spicy food irritates the gastrointestinal tract and helps in initiating the muscle contraction of intestine. Thus, spicy food may help in relieving constipation.

Vegetables: Vegetables such as sweet potato, carrot and broccoli increases the volume of the bowel and help reducing the incidence of constipation.

Hirschsprung’s disease is the disease of gastrointestinal tract. Specifically, this disease is related to large intestine and the patients have difficulty in passing the stools. The patient of this disease does it have the nerve cells in intestinal tract which controls the bowel movement. Thus, there is no control on the muscular movement and the patient may either experience diarrhea or constipation. In the fetus, most of the cells start growing from the beginning of the tract towards the end part. Due to genetic abnormality, the nerve cells grow initially at the initial part of gastrointestinal tract but fails to continue the growth and the last part of the becomes devoid of these cells.[5]

There are various types of Hirschsprung’s disease depending upon the severity of the disease:

Short-Segment Hirschsprung’s Disease: The patient suffering from this type are less severely affected as the nerve cells are absent only in the last part of large intestine.

Long-Segment Hirschsprung’s Disease: These patients are more severely affected as the nerve cells are absent in last part of small intestine and in whole or most part of large intestine.

Entire-Segment Hirschsprung’s Disease: Although rare but this condition can develop when whole of the small as well as large intestine gets affected.[6]

Hirschsprung’s Disease Symptoms

Following are the symptoms related to Hirschsprung’s disease:

Difficulty Stool Passing: As the nerve cells are not present in Hirschsprung’s disease, the patient experiences difficulty stool passing.

Infrequent Bowel Movement: Infrequent bowel movement is the most common symptoms as there is no control of muscles due to absence of nerve cells.

Growth Failure: Patient with Hirschsprung’s disease has slow growth.

Vomiting: Vomiting may also occur in patients with Hirschsprung’s disease.

Swelling Of Abdomen: Swelling of abdomen or belly is also experienced by the patients having Hirschsprung’s disease.

Diarrhea With Blood: Diarrhea with blood can also be seen in toddlers.[7]

Conclusion

High fiber diet and plenty of fluid is important for he patient suffering from Hirschsprung’s disease. Other ingredients include fruits, vegetables, cereals, juices and chocolates.

References:

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Team PainAssist
Team PainAssist
Written, Edited or Reviewed By: Team PainAssist, Pain Assist Inc. This article does not provide medical advice. See disclaimer
Last Modified On:January 10, 2022

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