On March 5, 2023, youtuber Carlito (aka Raphaël Carlier, known for his duets with youtuber Mcfly) announced the birth of his son. Some time later, the young dad published a disturbing message on social networks: “sacred complications with this baby of a month and a half“…
Because Carlito’s baby has Hirschprung’s disease – “behind this strange name hides a very boring dysfunction” he commented this Friday, March 17, 2023.
What is Hirschprung’s disease? Rare, this congenital pathology (which means that it is present from birth) affects approximately 1 in 5000 newborns, and especially boys.
This is a disease that affects the digestive tract: in babies who suffer, a particular population of cells (the “nerve ganglion cells located in the submucosal and myenteric plexuses”, this is their scientific name) is absent.
A congenital disease of the digestive tract
Result: certain automatic movements of the intestine allowing the transit of the food bolus do not take place with, in the end, a risk of intestinal obstruction. It is said that there is a “functional digestive obstacle”.
What are the causes of Hirschprung’s disease? The majority of recorded cases are sporadic, that is to say without a family history. A hereditary factor is still observed in about 15% of patients. In addition, several genes that predispose to the onset of the disease have been identified. And in 30% of cases, Hirschprung’s disease is in a syndromic form – which means that it is part of a more general disease (cardiopathy, epilepsy, etc.).
Hirschprung’s disease: how is it treated? The treatment is only surgical: it involves removing the diseased segment of intestine. Exactly: Carlito’s baby will soon be operated on. “The operation takes place in a month. It’s hard but, if we put it into perspective, if we compare, it’s not much. At least we hope” he wrote on Friday.
Source :Necker Hospital – APHP
