Malrotation Causes Misdiagnosis in Infants

Though it is normal behavior for a newborn child to vomit after feeding, projectile vomit, which is yellow or green in color is often a sign of a serious digestive condition, known as malrotation. This disorder involves a twisting of an infant’s bowels. It occurs in 1 in every 500 live births and can result in death if it is not caught and treated early.

Often, a pediatrician will diagnose this issue as colic, a less severe and much more common disorder. However, if an infant does not have a surgery to unwind his or her bowels, then he or she will eventually die. Blood flow to the intestines can be cut off for too long and will cause intestinal failure.

To prevent this condition, doctors warn mothers to be on the lookout for bloody stool or unnaturally colored projectile vomit. These are usually indicators of a serious problem and should warrant immediate medical attention. If a pediatrician diagnoses a child with a normal condition such as acid reflux or colic, and these symptoms persist, consult another doctor for a second opinion. If the doctor’s diagnosis is wrong, he or she can be sued for medical malpractice, but it will not reverse the wrongful death of a small child.