Medical Questions » Babies Questions » Question No. 111
| Question: | My baby is always vomiting, but when I took her to the doctor, he said it was a reflux problem and not vomiting. In what way does reflux differ from vomiting in babies? |
| Answer: | Some babies are unlucky enough to have a defect in the muscle ring at the bottom of the oesophagus (gullet). This muscle ring is normally contracted shut, and only opens when food is swallowed. This prevents the acid and food in the stomach from running up into the oesophagus when lying down or bending over.
If the muscle is weak or defective, the acid in the stomach can burn the oesophagus, which causes considerable pain to the infant. This is known as reflux oesophagitis.
Most children will grow out of the problem, but medication must be given in the meantime to prevent the burning and pain. This is usually in the form of a mixture which is given after every feed. More sophisticated treatments are available for intractable cases. |
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