Main Article Content

Pattern of aganglionic megacolon in Calabar, Nigeria


AE Archibong

Abstract

Birschsprung's disease, a congenital condition resulting in functional intestinal obstruction, was seen in 21  children at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) between January 1996 and December 1998. Late presentation of patients to hospital was ()bserved and was attributed to ignorance and poverty. Patients   presented only  then repeated herbal enemas no longer of£ered relief. The main complaints were abdominal  distension, constipation, wasting, diarrhoea and  growth retardation. Surgical resection of .the aganglionic segment and anastomosis is the treatment of choice and this procedure decreases mortality and  morbidity. Palliative transverse colostomy was considered essential as it protects the anastomosis. Early diagnosis of this disease in our environment can only be  achieved by means of a public awareness campaign. This will prevent many of the fatal complications associated with this condition.

Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 2078-5135
print ISSN: 0256-9574