Pyloric Stenosis
Pyloric stenosis is narrowing or almost complete obstruction of the pylorus which is a part of the stomach. This obstruction is often due to vast growth of the muscle comprising the pylorus.
The stomach is divided in three sections. The pylorus, the component in question in this article is the very end of the stomach where it joins the small intestine. This is a very muscular portion of the stomach because is regulates the rate of entry of the stomach contents. Pyloric stenosis typically occurs from growth or hypertrophy of this muscle.
The exact cause and development of pyloric stenosis is unclear. Genetics are considered to contribute because siblings show increased risk of developing pyloric stenosis compared to siblings that don’t have pyloric stenosis at all. Furthermore, if one or both of the parents has pyloric stenosis, their children are at higher risk than if their parents did not have pyloric stenosis.
Pyloric Stenosis
The uncontrolled growth or over growth of the pyloric muscle resulting in pyloric stenosis is thought to occur from a number of different mechanisms. Some scientists believe pyloric stenosis occurs from the muscle being deprived of certain chemicals as well as developing abnormal innervation. Other than these explanations, the only other possibility presented was that certain antibiotics at specific stages in life may produce pyloric stenosis. The one accepted example is that infants around 1 week old that were exposed to erythromycin, an antibiotic, exhibited higher risk for pyloric stenosis than other infants.
Pyloric stenosis is understood but how it happens is still subject to research.