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Home :: Family Health :: Megacolon Megacolon - Megacolon symptom, treatment, causesMegacolon can be explained as the gross distension of the colon (large bowel).leading to severe, chronic constipation and abdominal bloating. Megacolon may be congenital (for example in HIRSCHSPRUNG'S DISEASE),with consti- pation present from birth. In older children and adults the condition may result from anything that leads to partial or complete paralysis of the muscles in the colon wall. Causes of Megacolon include long-term use of stimulating LAXATIVES or painkillers containing narcotics such as morphine or codeine; failure to respond to the need to defaecate owing to apathy (in depression, schizophrenia or dementia) or painful conditions of the anus; or, rarely, thyroid hormone deficiencyor some nerve disorders. In megacolon the lower bowel may become obstructed by hard faeces that must be removed manually or by enema before corrective measures can be taken. These consist of eliminating the cause and attending to diet (see CONSTIPATION)and daily routine to re-establish a regular bowel habit. Megacolon is an enlarged colon that is unable to move stool. The dilatation is often accompanied by a paralysis of the peristaltic movements of the bowel, resulting in chronic constipation. Colonic dilatation is also observed in patients with congenital megacolon (Hirshsprung's disease), idiopathic or acquired megacolon occurring with chronic constipation of any etiology, and intestinseudoal pobstruction, a manifestation of diffuse gastrointestinal dysmotility of various causes. It is most commonly caused by severe inflammation and ulceration from ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease , which weaken muscles in the colon. Although symptoms usually begin within a few days after birth, some people don't develop them until childhood or even adulthood. Other symptoms include constipation, abdominal swelling, and vomiting. Symptoms in older children include passing small watery stools, diarrhea, and a lack of appetite. In a lower GI series, x-rays are used to measure the width of the colon and rectum. Rectal biopsy involves removing a piece of rectal tissue to learn whether the nerve cells that control intestinal muscle contractions are present. Colostomy is the most effective treatment for Hirschsprung's disease. In a colostomy, the surgeon removes the affected part of the colon. The top half of the remaining colon is then connected to a surgically created hole, called a stoma, on the abdomen. Causes of MegacolonThe common Causes of Megacolon :
Symptoms of MegacolonSome Symptoms of Megacolon :
Treatment of Megacolon
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