Expert: John Thai, M.D. - 8/30/2009

Question
My 5 1/2 month old Grandson refuses to drink his formula or eat baby food. He has been this way since birth He started out right after he was born throwing up large amounts he was breast feeding at the time and continued throwing up several times before the next feeding each time .This got worse as he got older he has been healthy besides this. She has taken him to see 3 diff doctors 2 of them specialist they said all they can find wrong is that he has severe acid reflux they gave him medicines for this and have not worked and he has been on them for about 3 months now. They have also had her try different formulas also tried adding cereal to the formula nothing has helped . Now they have her trying to get him to eat baby food he refuses that also.He does however and has the whole time acted hungry but when he starts to eat or drink just a few seconds later he screams as if he's in pain and will not eat.He weighed 5 pounds 12 oz at birth and was born at 38 weeks. He recently had an ear infection and a cold but rather than that nothings wrong except Him refusing to drink and eat and throwing up all through the day large amounts.He will be 6 months old the 6th of next month and he weighs 13 pounds .Please any info on what could possibly be wrong would be helpful.Thank You    A concerned Grandmother

Answer
hi veronica,

the problem associated should be further studied to determine the cause. your description, in general, does not present a cause except that it is very intriguing. neonates in such a situation should be ruled out for any anatomical defects. in such cases, physicians generally will order radiological imaging to rule out any defects. physicians may decide to perform other studies such as a motility study.

other problems which may predispose neonates to such problems may include food allergies.

i definitely recommend referring your question to your pediatric gastroenterologist as she or he would be better able to assist you.