Here are 5 Congenital Digestive Tract Abnormalities in Children

Here are 5 Congenital Digestive Tract Abnormalities in Children

There are various types of congenital abnormalities in children that are located in different organ systems, which can occur simultaneously in one baby or occur individually. Some congenital abnormalities that can be found in children, especially babies, include congenital hydrocephalus (accumulation of brain fluid that makes the baby's head appear larger than normal), Congenital Heart Disease (CHD), cleft palate and cleft lip (labiopalatoschisis), urinary tract abnormalities, congenital bone abnormalities, and those that will be discussed in this article are congenital abnormalities of the digestive tract.

Read more: How to Deal with Cracked Nipples While Breastfeeding to Keep Your Baby Full and Mom Calm

Congenital Abnormalities of the Digestive Tract in Children

Many congenital abnormalities of the digestive tract are often not detected during pregnancy or even after the baby is born, even though these abnormalities can be detected in the womb. The most frequently found congenital abnormalities of the digestive tract are:

  1. Absence of an anus/abnormalities of the anal canal (anorectal malformation)
    This abnormality is among the most frequently found in infants, where no anal opening is found, or the anal opening is located in an inappropriate anatomical position (e.g., near the genitals in women or on the back side of the scrotum in men). This abnormality causes the baby to be unable to have a bowel movement (BAB) at all or smoothly, which will be dangerous to the intestines because the BAB cannot be removed smoothly. 

The most basic examination that can be done at birth is to check for the presence of an anal opening visually or, if in doubt, can be assisted with a tool (previously assisted by inserting an iron tip on the thermometer into the place that should be the anal opening, but currently, this method is starting to be abandoned). This abnormality may require immediate surgery or not, depending on the type of anal canal abnormality found.

  1. Intestines that are not connected/blocked or narrowed from birth (intestinal/intestinal atresia)
    This abnormality can occur in several parts of the intestine, both from the small intestine (duodenum) to the large intestine, where the intestine is not connected, or connected imperfectly (narrowing) and causes the flow of BAB to be not smooth. This can be detected by the finding of vomiting in the baby, inability to have a bowel movement, and/or a distended abdomen and X-ray, which may eventually require surgery.

  2. Esophagus that is not connected/blocked (esophageal atresia)
    Esophageal atresia is also often found with symptoms of excessive drooling in infants and the esophagus cannot be inserted into a gastric tube because it is not connected to the stomach, causing the baby to be unable to be given breast milk/drink. Excess saliva that then enters the lungs will cause shortness of breath. 

There are various types of this abnormality that must be checked by competent health workers and also require surgery. If this abnormality has been detected since birth, then fluids for the baby are given through an IV temporarily and should not be given to drink because it can worsen the condition of lung infection (pneumonia) if too much fluid enters the lungs.

kelainan bawaan saluran cerna pada anak

  1. Intestinal enlargement/megacolon disease (Hirschsprung's Disease)
    Hirschsprung's disease is often characterized by a baby who does not have a bowel movement immediately within 24 hours after birth, although there are many other possibilities that also cause the baby not to have a bowel movement immediately. After not being able to have a bowel movement in the first 24 hours, the symptoms are usually followed by bloating throughout the abdomen and vomiting. If this happens, the baby should be taken to the hospital immediately, make sure they are not dehydrated or their dehydration is treated first, then rectal irrigation is performed (inserting a tube to help the BAB and air come out through the tube) and/or to reduce bloating, a tube can also be inserted through the mouth to reduce the air in the stomach. 

This can help reduce the tendency for gastrointestinal infection in Hirschsprung's disease and can be done as an intermediary measure before definitive surgery (intestinal withdrawal surgery). In addition, this action can also be carried out by the patient's family, if they have previously been given education and are under the supervision of competent health workers. Hirschsprung's disease is caused by the nerves that should be in the intestine to help the movement (peristalsis) of the intestine, not being found (or found with an abnormal distribution/number) resulting in the movement of the intestine becoming not smooth, BAB and air in the intestine also cannot be removed smoothly/cannot pass through the part of the intestine that is not innervated. 

The symptoms mentioned above can appear immediately after the baby is born (within 24 hours) or it can also occur several months/years later, where it starts to appear that the child does not have a bowel movement every day, or BAB is obtained every few days followed by bloating, repeated digestive infections and decreased nutritional status. Whether or not symptoms appear immediately depends on the length of the intestine that is not innervated, the longer the part of the intestine that does not have nerves for peristalsis, the sooner the symptoms will appear, and vice versa. This disease will eventually require surgery, whether immediately or not, and how many stages of surgery must be done, depending on how long the intestine is abnormal.

  1. Other congenital digestive diseases
    Other congenital digestive tract diseases include, for example, the remnants of the connection from the navel to the intestine, which causes BAB/air from the intestine to come out through the navel (omphalomesenteric duct) which is characterized by the presence of a part of the intestine (redness) that protrudes from the navel. The bulge in the navel can also be a remnant of the connection between the navel and the bladder, so that urine can seep through the navel. 

Other abnormalities that are not visible from the outside can also be found in disorders of the sequence/rotation that cause differences/abnormalities in the position of the intestine (malrotation) which can cause repeated vomiting with symptoms that can be found both since the baby and when the child's age has begun to increase. Other abnormalities can also occur due to defects in the abdominal wall that cause the abdominal organs to come out through/from the right or left side of the navel, which are covered by a membrane (omphalocele) and not covered by a membrane (gastroschisis).

Many other gastrointestinal abnormalities, although epidemiologically rare, can occur in infants, so early symptoms of digestive disorders that mainly occur from birth and are repeated need to be watched out for, such as repeated vomiting, repeated bloating or bowel movements that are not smooth or BAB that does not come out through the hole it should be.

 

Consult with RS Hermina Podomoro

We understand your concerns regarding your child's health. RS Hermina Podomoro has a team of experienced pediatric surgeons who handle various surgical cases in infants and children, including congenital abnormalities of the digestive tract. To schedule a consultation appointment, you can reach us through:

  • Call Center: 1500-488

  • Apps (IOS and Android) : Halo Hermina

  • Website: https://herminahospitals.com/id/branch/hermina-podomoro.html

References

rs hermina podomoro
Prev Post
Next Post

Hermina

Corporate Relations

Join Hermina

 Copyright 2025, PT MEDIKA LOKA MANAJEMEN

Cookies help us deliver our services. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies.