Many babies occasionally spit-up after eating.
Infants who constantly spit-up or vomit after breastfeeding or a bottle may have Gastroesophageal reflux or GER, a condition where the stomach contents return into the esophagus.
GER in infants is often caused by an underdeveloped digestive track. Many babies outgrow the condition within a year.
Recent studies suggest the possibility that some infants with symptoms of GER may actually suffer from allergies to proteins found in their milk. "Infants who do not respond to treatment therapy for GER may need to be evaluated for a food milk allergy," said Dr. Elsie Stines, a pediatric nurse practitioner at the University of Maryland Children's Hospital.
She adds, "Infants who have a strong evidence of a milk protein allergy, for instance if they have eczema or a family history of food allergies, may require an earlier workup for allergies."
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