San José, Costa Rica. May, 2015.

Loss of weight, fullness, reflux sensation and vomiting, are symptoms of pyloric stenosis, which is produced because the food does not find an exit from the stomach…

But, what does this illness consist of? It refers to a narrowing of the pylorus, which is the exit hole of the stomach.

This ailment can have a benign cause, as happens after an ulcer has existed and the scar that remains deforms the pylorus and then narrows it. It can also have a malignant cause when there is a tumor that obstructs it. There are rarer causes like when the innervation of the pylorus is affected in a surgery and the muscle closes it.     

According to Dr. Marcela Porras Alfaro, gastroenterologist of the Clinica Biblica Hospital, “when the food cannot exit the stomach, the most frequent symptoms are fullness, reflux sensation and vomiting and there can even be loss of weight.”

In the new-born baby the cause of pyloric stenosis can be genetic. The genetic factors play an important role. However, the cause of the thickening of the muscles of the pylorus is unknown. If a person suffered from pyloric stenosis, his/her children are more likely to develop this condition.         

Pyloric stenosis occurs more frequently in boys rather than girls and is rare in those over 6 months-old. The condition is generally diagnosed when the child is 6 months-old.            

One of the complications for the patient may be serious malnutrition and loss of weight, since the food does not pass into the intestine and the nutrients are not absorbed. The diagnosis is usually made through a gastroscopy, where in addition biopsies may be performed in order to discard malignity.

The prevention is addressed to performing a gastroscopy for the early detection of malignant and pre-malignant lesions, and in patients who suffer abdominal pain or acidity, in order to detect the ulcers and treat them adequately and early.

“Whenever there are persistent symptoms of important abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, loss of weight or fullness, go to the doctor. The solution of the problem may be through a dilation or with surgery, but only the specialist can determine if you are suffering from pyloric stenosis,” said Dr. Porras.

For further information or for requesting medical attention, please call the number 2522-1000, or write to the email citas@clinicabiblica.com or contact us via chat at the website: www.clinicabiblica.com.