THE INCREASING INCIDENCE OF INFANTILE HYPERTROPHIC PYLORIC-STENOSIS

Several reports have suggested that there is an increasingincidence of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS). We examined the incid ence of IHPS in a stable population in the West of Ireland over a ten year period (1981 - 1990). During the 10 years of the study the number of live births per year did not alter significantly. The incidence of IHPS increased significantly from 0.87/1000 live births in 1981 to 5. 10/1000 in 1990 (p < 0.001, Student's t test), peaking in 1989 at 6.8/ 1000. There was no statistical correlation between the increasing inci dence and feeding habits, birth rank, family history or gender distrib ution. The reason(s) for this increase remain unclear.