Pyloric stenosis
Disease Information
In-Depth
How does a child get pyloric stenosis?
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Pyloric stenosis occurs when the muscle surrounding the pyloric sphincter at the outlet to the stomach becomes thickened. This thickening can block the pyloric channel preventing the passage of feedings from the stomach into the small intestine. Vigorous contractions of the stomach wall attempt to force the feedings through the obstruction, but as it becomes tighter, these contractions result instead in the projectile vomiting.
- Pyloric stenosis is more common in boys than girls, and it occurs in up to 1 percent of otherwise healthy infants.
