General Medicine

Colic A common digestive disorder in infants is colic. This disorder typically affects infants who are three weeks to four months old. Colic is characterized

by loud, continuous crying that occurs for longer than three weeks, and more than three hours a day every day. The source of colic is unknown, but it may be caused by an allergy to milk or oversensitivity to the presence of gas in the intestine. It also may be that the child is easily upset by lights and noise. Gastroesophageal Reflux Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER) in infants occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), a ring of muscle at the bottom of the esophagus, opens allowing the contents of the stomach to flow back up into the esophagus. Spitting up and vomiting is the result of the LES opening. GER is normal in most babies but this digestive disorder can cause problems with breathing, pain, poor growth and blood loss if it is severe. An infant should be checked by a pediatrician to get a proper diagnosis. Necrotizing Entercolitis This is a serious digestive disorder that can lead to a hole in the intestine. The hole causes a severe infection due to bacteria leaking into the body, and scarring or narrowing in the intestine. Necrotizing entercolitis is a disorder that causes the intestinal tissue to die. Doctors believe it may be caused by lack of oxygen or blood flow to the intestines. Premature infants are at a higher risk for this digestive disorder than babies who are born full-term. Babies with thick blood due to too many red blood cells and those who have an infection in the gastrointestinal tract are also at higher risk. Hirschprung's Disease Hirschprung's is a digestive disorder of the large intestine that is present when the infant is born. It's caused by missing nerves, which are needed to trigger muscle contractions. The muscles in a working large intestine move digested food in the form of bowel movements, so the lack of muscle contractions means the large intestine cannot remove waste from the body. This can result in a blockage in the intestine. Dysphagia Dysphagia is the medical term that is used as a diagnosis when infants have difficulty swallowing food or liquid. This disorder can lead to a baby aspirating food or liquid into the lungs when attempting to eat or drink, which can cause pneumonia. Failing to take in adequate nutrients can lead to malnutrition and lack of growth inputs from: ehow.com