Congenital megacolon is a genetic defect found in newborns that are missing essential nerve cells that help constrict the bowel and move food through the colon with a series of wavelike contractions.
This condition allows stool to collect in the colon and become lodged there, creating a blockage that a physician must remove. Symptoms may include a distended or swollen abdomen, pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, headache, weakness, fever, rapid heart rate, or constipation. This can be a life-threatening disease.