Generally
Pylorus stenosis is a condition that a child under one year may have. The connection between the stomach and the intestine does not work properly, but the food is prevented from entering the intestine.
The reason is that the muscle between the stomach and the small intestine is thickened and prevents the food from coming down to the small intestine. Instead, when the stomach is trying to empty, the food flows backward and the baby vomits.
It starts with the baby vomiting more often and from the start in small amounts. As the days go by, the vomiting increases both in quantity and in power, to eventually spray out of the mouth and end up a bit away from the baby.
The condition is usually felt during the first month and always before the child is three months old. Treatment of pylorus stenosis is important as early as possible as the child does not get enough nutrition. If the child ceases to gain weight and receives fluid deficiency, it can have serious consequences.
About one in five hundred children have pylorus stenosis, most of the boys. The condition has fallen sharply while the recommendation that children under one year should sleep on their backs. But whether this has a clear causal relationship is not clear.
Symptoms of pylorus stenosis
The most obvious symptoms of pylorus stenosis in children are vomiting and the child does not gain weight properly. When the child has eaten, one can often see the baby’s stomach moving. It is contractions that occur when the stomach tries to carry the food down into the gut.
Treatment of pylorus stenosis
The doctor examines the child and the diagnosis is usually confirmed by an ultrasound examination or x-ray and blood tests.
If the child has pylorus stenosis, they must be anesthetized and operated. If the baby has vomited a lot, they may sometimes need to drip before surgery to restore the salt balance and fluid balance.
Through a small opening on the abdomen, the surgeon makes an incision in the thickened muscle. The operation takes less than an hour. Already on the same day as the operation is done, the child can begin to feed gently again.
Complications are very rare. The child usually recovers quickly after the operation.
When to seek care?
If a child under the age of one year has vomiting that increases for each meal, seek treatment immediately at a health center or on-call reception.