How is gerd treated in infants

Doctors prescribe these medicines to improve GERD symptoms and heal the lining of the esophagus. Infants taking these medicines may have a higher chance of experiencing certain types of infections. In some cases, infants may need surgery to treat GERD later in childhood. Chapter Gastroesophageal reflux. Textbook of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition. Scand J Gastroenterol. Common questions about outpatient care of premature infants.

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J Clin Gastroenterol. Obesity and gastroesophageal reflux disease and gastroesophageal reflux symptoms in children. Clin Exp Gastroenterol. Martin AJ, et al. Natural history and familial relationships of infant spilling to 9 years of age. Nelson SP, et al. Prevalence of symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux during infancy. A pediatric practice-based survey. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. Campanozzi A, et al. Prevalence and natural history of gastroesophageal reflux: pediatric prospective survey.

Prevalence of symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux during childhood: a pediatric practice-based survey. Jung AD. Gastroesophageal reflux in infants and children. One-year follow-up of symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux during infancy.

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Ann Pharmacother. Illueca M, et al. Maintenance treatment with proton pump inhibitors for reflux esophagitis in pediatric patients: a systematic literature analysis. Efficacy and safety of histamine-2 receptor antagonists. Mallet E, et al. Use of ranitidine in young infants with gastro-oesophageal reflux.

Eur J Clin Pharmacol. Ranitidine, 75 mg, over-the-counter dose: pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects in children with symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux. Tolerance to intravenous ranitidine. Double-blind placebo-controlled trial of omeprazole in irritable infants with gas-troesophageal reflux.

Efficacy and safety of once-daily esomeprazole for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease in neonatal patients.

Metoclopramide for the treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux disease in infants: a systematic review. Scott B. Question 2. How effective is domperidone at reducing symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux in infants? This content is owned by the AAFP. A person viewing it online may make one printout of the material and may use that printout only for his or her personal, non-commercial reference.

This material may not otherwise be downloaded, copied, printed, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any medium, whether now known or later invented, except as authorized in writing by the AAFP. Contact afpserv aafp. Want to use this article elsewhere? Get Permissions. Read the Issue. Sign Up Now. Oct 15, Issue. Author disclosure: No relevant financial affiliations. C 2 — 4 , 27 Conservative treatments are the first-line strategies for most infants, older children, and adolescents with reflux and GERD.

C 2 — 4 A trial of extensively hydrolyzed or amino acid formula in formula-fed infants, or maternal dietary modification in breastfed infants, is warranted when reflux is presumed to be caused by an allergy to cow's milk protein. C 2 , 4 , 19 Histamine H 2 receptor antagonists are an option for acid suppression therapy in infants and children with GERD.

B 2 , 3 , 52 , 56 , 57 Proton pump inhibitors are reasonable treatment options for GERD in older children and adolescents, but their use in infants is questionable because of a lack of proven effectiveness. Society of Hospital Medicine Pediatric Long-term acid suppression therapy for gastroesophageal reflux disease should be titrated to the lowest effective dose. Enlarge Print Table 1. Table 1.

Enlarge Print Table 2. Table 2. Enlarge Print Table 3. Table 3. Enlarge Print Table 4. Table 4. Enlarge Print eTable A. Information from: A1. Enlarge Print eTable B. How much does the baby usually spit up? Does the spitting up seem to be uncomfortable for the baby? Does the baby refuse feedings even when hungry? Does the baby have trouble gaining enough weight? Does the baby cry a lot during or after feedings? Do you think the baby cries or fusses more than normal?

How many hours does the baby cry or fuss each day? Do you think the baby hiccups more than most babies? Does the baby have spells of arching back? Read the full article. Get immediate access, anytime, anywhere.

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Society of Hospital Medicine Pediatric. When the LES relaxes too often or for too long, stomach acid flows back into the esophagus. This causes vomiting or heartburn.

Everyone has reflux from time to time. If you have ever burped and had an acid taste in your mouth, you have had reflux. Sometimes the LES relaxes at the wrong times. Often your child will just have a bad taste in his or her mouth. Or your child may have a short, mild feeling of heartburn. Babies are more likely to have a weak LES. This makes the LES relax when it should stay shut. As food or milk is digesting, the LES opens. It lets the stomach contents go back up to the esophagus.

Sometimes the stomach contents go all the way up the esophagus. Then the baby or child vomits. In other cases, the stomach contents only go part of the way up the esophagus. This causes heartburn or breathing problems. In some cases there are no symptoms at all. Some foods seem to affect the muscle tone of the LES. They let the LES stay open longer than normal.

These foods include:. It often goes away on its own. Your child is more at risk for GERD if he or she has:. Heartburn, or acid indigestion, is the most common symptom of GERD. Heartburn is described as a burning chest pain. It begins behind the breastbone and moves up to the neck and throat. It can last as long as 2 hours. It is often worse after eating. Lying down or bending over after a meal can also lead to heartburn.

Children younger than age 12 will often have different GERD symptoms. They will have a dry cough, asthma symptoms, or trouble swallowing. GERD symptoms may seem like other health problems. Make sure your child sees his or her healthcare provider for a diagnosis. Your child's healthcare provider will do a physical exam and take a health history. Other tests may include:. Chest X-ray. An X-ray can check for signs that stomach contents have moved into the lungs.

This is called aspiration. Upper GI series or barium swallow. It checks the food pipe esophagus , the stomach, and the first part of the small intestine duodenum. Your child will swallow a metallic fluid called barium. Barium coats the organs so that they can be seen on an X-ray. Then X-rays are taken to check for signs of sores or ulcers, or abnormal blockages.

This test checks the inside of part of the digestive tract. It uses a small, flexible tube called an endoscope. It has a light and a camera lens at the end.