Pyloric stenosis is also known as forceful vomiting. This is an uncommon condition in infants that blocks food from entering the small intestines. In this condition , there is narrowing of the pylorus , which is the opening of the stomach into the small intestines. This causes projectile or forceful vomiting in babies usually a few weeks after birth.

Food usually passes easily from the stomach into the first part of the small intestine through a valve known as the pylorus. In this condition , the muscles of the pylorus are thickened  preventing the stomach from emptying into the small intestines. The cause of this thickening is not known. However genes may play a role since children whose parents  had  pyloric stenosis are likely to get it.

Pyloric stenosis usually occurs in children younger than 6 months old. It’s  more common in males than females. Whites are more likely to get it than blacks, Hispanics or Asians. It is also common in children who were given antibiotics such as erythromycin  during the first week of life. Babies born to mothers who took certain antibiotics late in pregnancy and  breastfeeding babies whose moms are taking certain antibiotics are also at risk.

What are the symptoms of pyloric stenosis ?

Vomiting is usually the first symptom.

• vomiting is projectile or forceful
• it may occur after every feeding or only at some feedings
• vomiting usually starts at 3 weeks of age but it may start anytime between 1 week and 5 months
• the baby is hungry after vomiting and wants to feed again

Other symptoms may appear several weeks after birth and these include the following :

• constant hunger
• burping
• dehydration
• fewer bowel movements or bowel movement  that are looser  than normal
• abdominal pain
• failure to gain weight or weight loss
• wave – like motion of the abdomen shortly after feeding and just before vomiting occurs

How is pyloric stenosis diagnosed ?

The doctor will ask for the baby’s  symptoms and examine her. He will then take an ultrasound of the belly and may  order blood test to check the baby’s electrolytes. He may  request a barium X-ray in which the baby will drink a bottle of chalky solution containing barium and a picture  of her pylorus in action taken. If it is confirmed that  your baby has this condition, she will need surgery.

How is pyloric stenosis treated ?

Babies diagnosed with this condition will require surgery known as pyloromyotomy  which widens to pylorus. This surgery is almost always enough to resolve the situation. Your baby may come home within a  day or two. In rare cases, the baby may need a second procedure to resolve the condition. The baby is able to resume  feeding in about a day after the surgery.
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