The key difference between reflux and pyloric stenosis is that reflux occurs when stomach acid repeatedly flows back into the tube connecting the mouth and stomach, called the esophagus, while pyloric stenosis is a condition that causes thickening and narrowing of the pylorus in babies.
Normally, when people eat, food passes from the mouth to the stomach through a tube called the esophagus. But sometimes, food, acid, or other stomach content in the stomach travels back up the esophagus. Reflux and pyloric stenosis are two conditions characterized by the regurgitation of the things people eat. These two conditions can be seen in children. However, reflux is also common in other age groups. Moreover, pyloric stenosis is far less common than reflux.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Reflux
3. What is Pyloric Stenosis
4. Similarities – Reflux and Pyloric Stenosis
5. Reflux vs. Pyloric Stenosis in Tabular Form
6. FAQ – Reflux and Pyloric Stenosis
7. Summary – Reflux vs. Pyloric Stenosis
What is Reflux?
Reflux or Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition that occurs when stomach acid repeatedly flows back into the tube connecting the mouth and stomach called the esophagus. Many people can observe this condition from time to time. The common signs and symptoms of reflux may include a burning sensation in the chest, backwash, upper abdominal or chest pain, dysphagia, sensation of the lump in the throat, an ongoing cough, inflammation of vocal cords, and worsening asthma. The risk factors for reflux are obesity, bulging of the stomach up above the diaphragm, pregnancy, connective tissue disorders, and delayed stomach emptying.
Reflux can be diagnosed through upper endoscopy, ambulatory acid test, X-ray of the upper digestive system, esophageal manometry, and transnasal esophagoscopy. Furthermore, treatment options for reflux may include antacids that neutralize stomach acid, prescription-strength proton pump inhibitors, prescription-strength H-2 blockers, surgeries like fundoplication, LINX device, and transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF).
What is Pyloric Stenosis?
Pyloric stenosis is a condition that causes forceful vomiting due to the thickening and narrowing of the pylorus in babies. The symptoms of this condition may include frequent projectile vomiting, abdominal pain, dehydration, hunger after feedings, irritability, small poops, wave-like stomach motion after eating, and weight loss. The risk factors for pyloric stenosis are family history, sex (babies assigned male at birth), race (European descent), smoking, giving certain antibiotics, and approach to feeding.
Pyloric stenosis can be diagnosed through physical examination, abdominal ultrasound, X-ray, and blood test. Furthermore, treatment options for pyloric stenosis include giving fluids intravenously and surgery.
What are the Similarities Between Reflux and Pyloric Stenosis?
- Reflux and pyloric stenosis are two conditions that can be seen in children.
- Both conditions are not life-threatening conditions.
- Both can be diagnosed through physical examinations and imaging scans.
- They can be treated through specific surgeries.
What is the Difference Between Reflux and Pyloric Stenosis?
Reflux occurs when stomach acid repeatedly flows back into the tube connecting the mouth and stomach, called the esophagus, while pyloric stenosis is a condition that causes the thickening and narrowing of the pylorus of babies. Thus, this is the key difference between reflux and pyloric stenosis. Furthermore, the risk factors for reflux are obesity, bulging of the stomach up above the diaphragm, pregnancy, connective tissue disorders, and delayed stomach emptying. On the other hand, the risk factors for pyloric stenosis are family history, sex (babies assigned male at birth), race (European descent), smoking, giving antibiotics, and approach to feeding.
The infographic below presents the differences between reflux and pyloric stenosis in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
FAQ: Reflux and Pyloric Stenosis
Can pyloric stenosis be mistaken for reflux?
Pyloric stenosis can be confused with reflux more often.
What is the most common early symptom of pyloric stenosis?
Forceful, projectile vomiting is the most common symptom of pyloric stenosis.
How do I know if my baby has reflux?
If your baby shows symptoms like bringing up milk or being sick during or shortly after feeding, coughing or hiccupping when feeding, being unsettled during feeding, swallowing or gulping after burping or feeding, crying and not settling, not gaining weight as they’re not keeping enough food down, your baby might be having the reflux.
Summary – Reflux vs. Pyloric Stenosis
Reflux and pyloric stenosis are two conditions that can be seen in children. Reflux occurs when the stomach acid repeatedly flows back into the esophagus. On the other hand, pyloric stenosis is a condition that causes the thickening and narrowing of the pylorus of babies. It causes forceful vomiting. So, this summarizes the difference between reflux and pyloric stenosis.
Reference:
1. “Pyloric Stenosis.” Johns Hopkins Medicine.
2.“How to Tell When Acid Reflux Is More than a Mild Case of Heartburn.” Healthline, Healthline Media.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Pyloric-stenosis” By Dr Laughlin Dawes – (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “GastroEsophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)” By BruceBlaus – File:GERD.png (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
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