Infant constipation problem that requires surgery

Dear Dr. Donohue: My grandson, my only grandchild, has had a constipation problem since his birth. He is 6 months old now. My daughter has spoken to his pediatrician about this on many occasions. The doctor suggested mineral oil. On her last visit, he told her he wanted to check the baby for megacolon. I know what colon means, and I know that mega is big, but I don't know what megacolon is. Will you please explain this? — A.W.

Reply: Congenital megacolon is a segment of colon in which nerve cells have failed to establish a connection during fetal development.

Without such connections, that part of the colon has weak to zero muscle contractions. The colon can't move undigested food through it.

When a large segment of colon has no nerve connections, signs of trouble are present from birth. The colon fills and expands with feces — the "mega" of "megacolon." The infant doesn't pass stool. With involvement of a smaller section of colon, constipation is the main sign, but the infant can still pass stool less often and with difficulty.

Congenital megacolon isn't the only cause of infant constipation. An anatomically narrow colon (a birth defect), too little thyroid hormone, low blood potassium and high blood calcium are other causes.

One way of establishing the megacolon diagnosis is through a biopsy of the rectum. A doctor can do it without having to hospitalize the baby. Microscopic examination of the tissue demonstrates the lack of nerve connections.

Correction of the problem is removal of the involved section of the colon and then hooking the colon back together.

Another name for this disorder is Hirschsprung disease.

Dear Dr. Donohue: I take an oral medicine for diabetes. I keep a record of my blood sugar readings. I have my own blood sugar meter. What is considered normal for a fasting reading and for a reading after eating? — T.S.

Reply: A fasting blood sugar (plasma glucose) ought to be 130 mg/dL (7.2 mmol/L) or less. "Fasting" means no food in the preceding eight to 12 hours.

Two hours after eating, the reading should be less than 180 (10).

The hemoglobin A1c value gives an idea of what your blood sugar averaged in the preceding three to four months. It should be less than 7 percent. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinology sets 6.5 percent as the desirable reading for HbA1c.

Blood in/after Stool (Belgian Shepherd) - Discuss Pets @ PetLovers.Com

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today ! Last Monday night/Tuesday morning he came down with a bout of diarrhea (which we though may have been caused by eating some spaghetti and meatballs that were served for a family dinner). We modified his diet and fed him chopped meat (cooked) with rice to help "bind" him up a bit. It seemed to be working as his movements were getting less frequent. Well, I just got off the phone with the vet and, to use his words, "The good news is it's none of the really bad stuff" like cancer, etc. He thinks that the bleeding was caused by all of the diarrhea, not the other way around. And the diarrhea was likely caused either by a virus or a bacterial overgrowth. He's going to have to stay for another day or two or so, because he still has "a mess of diarrhea/blood" and they want to make sure he gets treatment. By treatment, he said make sure he is getting enough fluids, and some antibiotics and medication to make sure the bleeding stops. Hi My basset had the same problem a few months ago and the vet took all kinds of tests and found nothing. She sent her home with some kind of pills I forgot what they were because I threw the bottle away. She also said to keep her on chicken and rice for a few days. I don't know if your dog has the same problem but at least he's at the vet now and he will be watched. I do know that sometimes when a dog has diarrhea for an extended time you sometimes find blood in the stool.

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