GERD in Babies and Small Children

Not only can acid reflux, or GERD, affect the adult population, it can also affect babies and young children, and carries the same levels of pain and discomfort we, as adults, have to put up with.  Although you can’t cure your baby, you can do a lot to help her by looking out for her and altering her diet.  The trouble with babies is they can’t tell you about their symptoms, nor can they suggest they may be suffering from GERD.  It is important to look out for the signs and consult a physician if you are at all worried about the possibility of your child suffering from the condition.

Infantile GERD is mainly prevalent through regular vomiting after meals.  Although babies tend to bring back some of their food, if this becomes too frequent an occurrence it could be down to GERD.  The problem normally arises in babies as a result of a lack of co-ordination in the oesophagus, stomach and diaphragm, or perhaps as a result of some nervous problems which your baby will almost certainly grow out of and learn to contend with.

To diagnose GERD in babies is, like in adults, no easy process.  As I said, the baby can’t tell you what its feeling, so the trial and error involved is much greater before realising effective results.  The best ways to test for GERD are through a pH probe, endoscopy or a gastric emptying study.  The pH probe involves inserting a probe into the oesophagus to measure the acidic quality of any liquid therein.  If it proves to be overly acidic, this is a good indicator of GERD and the physician can then prescribe medication to calm the acid which is causing the majority of the pain.  With the endoscopy, the doctor uses a small camera to take a closer look at the inside of the oesophagus, which can be helpful in looking for further complications which may be prevalent.  With the gastric emptying study, the doctor will measure the length of time required for the stomach to fully empty, which if longer than usual could also be a cause of your baby’s reflux. 

As with the adult form of the condition, there are a range of medications and treatments which can be prescribed.  Firstly, ensuring your baby eats less acidic or acid stimulating foods is a good start.  Medications can include antacids, which serve to neutralise the content of the stomach, or alternatively a histamine antagonist can be prescribed to alter the production of acid within the child’s stomach.

It is important to look out for the signs of GERD in your baby.  If the condition is left, it could do serious damage to your baby’s gastrointestinal tract which could result in problems in later life.  It is far better to solve the problem early, and hopefully your child will overcome the condition as she/he gets that bit older.  GERD is as uncomfortable for kids as it is for adults, so please be vigilant and make sure your child is as comfortable as they can possibly be.