Glossary

See pH probe.

apnea

Brief
pauses in breathing.

A device that monitors an infant’s
breathing.  The monitor sounds an alarm when there are
breathing or heart rate problems.

aspirate/aspiration

To breath reflux fluids (from the stomach) into the
lungs.kdh

A chronic lung condition characterized by difficulty
breathing.

Serious episodes of prolonged apnea that
do not result in death.

Test used for diagnosis of reflux. 
The infant drinks a liquid containing barium.  The barium coats
the esophagus and stomach, allowing them to viewed on the x-ray.

A condition that occurs when cells
normally found in the stomach/intestine grow in the esophagus.

When an infant stops breathing and turns blue.

When the heart beats at an unusually slow
rate (fewer than 50 to 60 beats per minute).kdh

A genetic intolerance to
gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and oats.

A separation of the two sides of the lip.

An opening in the roof of the mouth where the two sides
of the palate did not join together during development.

Colic is extended periods of uncontrollable,
unexplainable crying in a healthy baby.

A bluish-gray discoloration of the skin
caused by a lack of oxygen in the blood.

The first part of the small intestine.

A swallowing disorder marked by difficulty swallowing
and/or pain while swallowing.

Test used to diagnose reflux.  A
tube with a camera on the end is inserted in the esophagus and into
the stomach.  Used to assess the degree of reflux and identify
any problems in the stomach and duodenum.  A biopsy may also be
taken for evaluation.

See MSPI.

See barium swallow
x-ray.

When a infant’s weight or rate of weight gain is
significantly below other infants of similar age and sex.

A tube used to feed infants which is inserted directly
into the stomach.  Typically used for long-term delivery of
nutrition.

Test used to diagnose reflux.  The
infant drinks a liquid with a small level of radioactivity.  A
camera then measures the movement of the radioactivity as the infant
lays still on a table.  Used to determine the rate at which
contents are leaving the stomach.

The rate at which food moves through the gastric tract
during digestion.

See endoscopy.

Chronic symptoms
caused when the contents of the stomach travel back up into the
esophagus.

Medicines used to treat reflux that reduce the amount of
acid the stomach produces by blocking histamines from attaching to H2
receptor sites.

A disorder of the upper GI tract caused by reflux which
is associated with neurological side affects such as twisting of the
neck (torticollis), nodding of the head, torso spasms, gurgling sounds
(ruminate) and writhing
movements of the limbs.

See Barrett’s
Esophagus.

A tube used to feed infants which is inserted directly
into the upper section of the small intestine. Used to bypass the
stomach and feed directly into the intestinal tract.

The backflow of the contents of the stomach into the
esophagus and the upper airway.kdh

The inability to breath due to a closure of the
laryngeal cords, which blocks airflow to the lungs.

Sleeping position where baby is placed on
its side.

The muscle connecting the esophagus with
the stomach.

Milk Soy Protein Intolerance.

A tube used to feed infants which is placed through the
nose, down the esophagus and into the stomach.  Used for infants
who are unable to ingest nutrients by mouth.

A procedure used to correct reflux in which part of the
stomach is wrapped around the lower esophagus.  This prevents the
flow of fluids from the stomach to the esophagus and strengthens the
muscle between the stomach and the esophagus.

Test used to diagnose reflux.  A
fine wire is threaded through the nose into the stomach and usually
left for a 24-hour period.  The ph (acidity) in the esophagus
is recorded.  Used to determine presence and extent of acid
reflux.

Medicines used to treat reflux that reduce the amount of
acid the stomach produces by inhibiting proton pumps which produce the
acid.

Medicines used to treat reflux which keep the contents
of the stomach from reaching the esophagus by tightening the value
between the stomach and the esophagus.  Also increase gastric
motility.

Sleeping position
where baby is placed on its stomach.

See MSPI.

Pyloric stenosis is a narrowing of the opening
(pylorus) from the
stomach to the intestine.kdh

The opening between the stomach and the
duodenum.

When acid and food from the stomach back up into the
esophagus.

Refluxed stomach contents.

A progressive neurological
disorder in which individuals exhibit reduced muscle tone, occurs
primarily in girls.

Chew excessively.

See hiatus hernia.kdh

Silent reflux is reflux with the absence of visible
symptoms such as spitting up, vomiting, poor weight gain, etc.

Sleep disorder characterized by episodes where an infant
does not breath for periods of 10 seconds or more.

The three sleeping positions are
supine, prone and
lateral.

Sleeping position where baby is placed on
its back.

A twist in the neck.

An abnormal weakness and collapse
of the tracheal walls.

See barium swallow
x-ray.