What symptom is indicative of esophageal atresia in newborns?

The symptom that is indicative of esophageal atresia in newborns is immediate vomiting after feeding. This condition is characterized by a congenital defect where the esophagus does not form a continuous passage to the stomach. As a result, when a newborn attempts to feed, the milk or formula cannot pass into the stomach as it would in a healthy infant. Instead, it often leads to immediate regurgitation or vomiting, usually occurring right after feeding because the material cannot go beyond the point of obstruction.

Understanding esophageal atresia is crucial as it is typically associated with a failure to thrive in infants, and the immediate vomiting can also be accompanied by other symptoms like drooling or difficulty in breathing due to aspiration, but the hallmark symptom is the vomiting right after feeding. This requires prompt diagnosis and intervention to ensure the health and well-being of the newborn.