What is Sandifer's syndrome in infants?

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asked Jun 3, 2022 in Baby/Newborn by fatermater (4,830 points)
What is Sandifer's syndrome in infants?

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answered Jun 3, 2022 by walkingmore (10,110 points)
Sandifer's syndrome in infants is a condition causes and involves spasmodic torsional dystonia with arching of the back and rigid opisthotonic posturing, associated with symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux, esophagitis, or hiatal hernia.

Initial treatment for Sandifer's syndrome consists of lifestyle changes, such as dietary modification and positioning.

Sandifer syndrome isn't a serious condition.

The good news is that Sandifer's syndrome typically clears up by age 2, and it isn't associated with any long-term complications.

The most serious long-term effect of Sandifer's Syndrome can be problems from malnutrition if the condition is severe and never treated.

Sandifer syndrome is a rare complication of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) when a patient presents with extraoesophageal symptoms, typically neurological.

It can be difficult to recognize due to its non-specific presentation and lack of gastrointestinal symptoms.

In a typical attack of Sandifer syndrome, a baby's back will arch suddenly. With their back flexed, their head and legs also splay out backward.

They become stiff. Other expressions of the syndrome include nodding head movements, twisting or tilting of the head, or thrashing limbs.

Sandifer syndrome does not require treatment and typically resolves in the first 12-24 months of life, as nutrition is gradually less dependent on volumes of fluid, and the lower esophageal sphincter function improves unless the spasms are the result of gastroesophageal disease.

In children, GERD usually goes away on its own after they're about 18 months old, when the muscles of their esophagus mature.

Sandifer syndrome usually also goes away once this happens.

While it's often not a serious condition, it can be painful and lead to feeding problems, which can affect growth.

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