The digestive organs may be incompletely developed or abnormally positioned, causing blockages, or the muscles or nerves of the digestive tract may be defective.
Symptoms depend on the location of the defect but may include crampy abdominal pain, abdominal swelling, and vomiting.
The diagnosis usually is based on imaging tests and other tests.
Surgery usually is required.
A birth defect Overview of Birth Defects Birth defects, also called congenital anomalies, are physical abnormalities that occur before a baby is born. They are usually obvious within the first year of life. The cause of many birth... read more can occur anywhere along the length of the digestive tract—in the esophagus Throat and Esophagus The throat (pharynx—see also Throat) lies behind and below the mouth. When food and fluids leave the mouth, they pass through the throat. Swallowing of food and fluids begins voluntarily and... read more , stomach Stomach The stomach is a large, bean-shaped, hollow muscular organ consisting of three regions: Cardia Body (fundus) Antrum (See also Overview of the Digestive System.) read more , small intestine Small Intestine The duodenum is the first segment of the small intestine, and the stomach releases food into it. Food enters the duodenum through the pyloric sphincter in amounts that the small intestine can... read more , large intestine Large Intestine The large intestine consists of the Cecum and ascending (right) colon Transverse colon Descending (left) colon Sigmoid colon (which is connected to the rectum) read more , rectum Rectum and Anus The rectum is a chamber that begins at the end of the large intestine, immediately following the sigmoid colon, and ends at the anus (see also Overview of the Anus and Rectum). Ordinarily, the... read more , or anus Rectum and Anus The rectum is a chamber that begins at the end of the large intestine, immediately following the sigmoid colon, and ends at the anus (see also Overview of the Anus and Rectum). Ordinarily, the... read more . Such birth defects include the following:
Abdominal wall defects Abdominal Wall Defects (Omphalocele and Gastroschisis) In abdominal wall defects, the muscles surrounding the abdominal cavity are weak or develop holes, allowing the intestines to spill out. The two main abdominal wall defects are omphalocele and... read more (including omphalocele and gastroschisis)
Esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula Esophageal Atresia and Tracheoesophageal Fistula Esophageal atresia is a birth defect in which the esophagus narrows or comes to an end. Most newborns with esophageal atresia also have an abnormal connection between the esophagus and the windpipe... read more
Biliary atresia is a birth defect involving the bile ducts Gallbladder and Biliary Tract The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped, muscular storage sac that holds bile and is interconnected to the liver by ducts known as the biliary tract. (See also Overview of the Liver and Gallbladder... read more 
. Although the bile ducts are located outside the digestive tract, they help with digestion and are thus mentioned here.
In many cases, an organ is not fully developed or is abnormally positioned, which often causes narrowing or blockage (obstruction). Blockages can be present almost anywhere in the digestive tract, including in the esophagus, intestines, rectum, or anus. Sometimes a segment of the digestive tract does not form or develop normally or forms and then is destroyed by a problem that occurs in the womb before birth. The internal or external muscles surrounding the abdominal cavity may weaken or develop holes, as is the case with abdominal wall defects and diaphragmatic hernia. The nerves to the intestines may also fail to develop, as is the case with Hirschsprung disease.
Symptoms of Digestive Tract Birth Defects
Symptoms depend on what the birth defect is and where it is located. Infants may have crampy abdominal pain, abdominal swelling, and/or vomiting. Problems with feeding can occur and infants may fail to gain weight normally. Some infants develop a yellowish discoloration of the skin called jaundice Jaundice in the Newborn Jaundice is a yellow color to the skin and/or eyes caused by an increase in bilirubin in the bloodstream. Bilirubin is a yellow substance formed when hemoglobin (the part of red blood cells... read more 
.
Diagnosis of Digestive Tract Birth Defects
Imaging tests (x-rays and ultrasonography)
Imaging tests are usually required to diagnose a digestive tract birth defect. Sometimes, defects are detected before birth during routine prenatal ultrasonography Ultrasonography Prenatal diagnostic testing involves testing the fetus before birth (prenatally) to determine whether the fetus has certain abnormalities, including certain hereditary or spontaneous genetic... read more . After birth, some defects are diagnosed with x-rays Plain X-Rays X-rays are high-energy radiation waves that can penetrate most substances (to varying degrees). In very low doses, x-rays are used to produce images that help doctors diagnose disease. In high... read more of the chest or abdomen. Ultrasonography Ultrasonography Ultrasonography uses high-frequency sound (ultrasound) waves to produce images of internal organs and other tissues. A device called a transducer converts electrical current into sound waves... read more 
may also be done after birth to identify and locate defects.
Other testing may include blood tests and biopsies. During a biopsy, a piece of tissue is removed for examination under a microscope.
Other tests, such as genetic testing, may be done depending on the test results and symptoms.
Treatment of Digestive Tract Birth Defects
Surgery
Most digestive tract defects require surgery. Typically, blockages are surgically opened. Weakenings or holes in the muscles surrounding the abdominal cavity are sewn shut.
