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What Could Cause Drastic Weight Loss In An Infant Who Has Regurgitation Of Fluids, Vomiting And Colic?
Question: 3 month old is 98th percentile for height but has dropped from 90th percentile for weight to 44th. Has reflux and on Prevacid. Seems to only be able to take 3oz per feed and spitting up more frequently plus some vomiting. Being told it's colic but still concerned - does the weight decline or height:weight ratio concern you?
Brief Answer:
Pyloric stenosis needs to be ruled out
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
The sudden change in the weight gain pattern concerns me more because the such vomiting at this age could be an indication of pyloric stenosis. I would insist your doctor to evaluate in this line and an abdominal ultrasound will help in the diagnosis.
Feel free to write back.
Regards
Pyloric stenosis needs to be ruled out
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
The sudden change in the weight gain pattern concerns me more because the such vomiting at this age could be an indication of pyloric stenosis. I would insist your doctor to evaluate in this line and an abdominal ultrasound will help in the diagnosis.
Feel free to write back.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Thank you -- would a child constantly spit up with pyloric stenosis as well? He spits up yesterday every 15 minutes between 2 of his feeds. Had one vomit. His stools are also very watery and mucousy. We tested for parasites etc and everything came back normal. But he has between 7-10 each day. Anything else come to mind for you? Will ask for an ultrasound at our appointment tomorrow. Thank you.
Brief Answer:
The digestive movements could have been hampered.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for the update and sorry for the inadvertent delay. The constant spitting up and the watery stools do not seem to correlate. However, the spitting up could indicate reverse peristalsis. Our gastrointestinal tract has a forward propulsive movement (peristalsis) that moves the food material forward as it is digested, absorbed and finally expelled as feces. If somehow this movement gets hampered, food along with the digestive juices would stagnate and may cause the child to spit up or vomit. The movement could get hampered due to pyloric stenosis or due to other causes of reflux. Not sure about the loose stools and it does not really correlate. But it could be rather normal.
Let me know after the ultrasound. I will try to help accordingly.
Regards
The digestive movements could have been hampered.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for the update and sorry for the inadvertent delay. The constant spitting up and the watery stools do not seem to correlate. However, the spitting up could indicate reverse peristalsis. Our gastrointestinal tract has a forward propulsive movement (peristalsis) that moves the food material forward as it is digested, absorbed and finally expelled as feces. If somehow this movement gets hampered, food along with the digestive juices would stagnate and may cause the child to spit up or vomit. The movement could get hampered due to pyloric stenosis or due to other causes of reflux. Not sure about the loose stools and it does not really correlate. But it could be rather normal.
Let me know after the ultrasound. I will try to help accordingly.
Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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