| Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) | 817.000000000000 | Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) | Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) | G | English | Gastrointestinal | Child (0-12 years);Teen (13-18 years) | Esophagus;Stomach | Esophagus;Stomach | Conditions and diseases | Caregivers
Adult (19+) | NA | | 2021-01-19T05:00:00Z | | | | | | 9.60000000000000 | 53.4000000000000 | 838.000000000000 | | Health (A-Z) - Conditions | Health A-Z | <p>GERD causes the backwards movement of food and acid from the stomach into the esophagus. Learn how you can help your child manage GERD. </p> | <h2>What is gastroesophageal reflux? </h2>
<p>"Reflux" means "backwards movement." The esophagus is the tube that leads from the mouth to the stomach. So, gastroesophageal reflux is the backwards movement of food and acid from the stomach into the esophagus.</p>
<p>Burping and spitting up are common after a baby feeds. Most babies spit up to some degree without discomfort, and it usually fades by the first year. This is called gastroesophageal reflux (without "disease").</p>
<p>In infants, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when there is poor weight gain or other bothersome symptoms, such as excessive crying, irritability or back arching.</p>
<p>Older children and adolescents may also get GERD. Their symptoms are similar to those of adults and can include heartburn and regurgitation.<br></p> | | <h2>Key points</h2>
<ul>
<li>Most infants experience some regurgitation after feeding. </li>
<li>Most infants outgrow symptoms of GERD by the time they can eat solid foods. </li>
<li>Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when the irritable and painful symptoms are frequent and persistent or lead to poor weight gain.</li>
<li>Complications can include bleeding in the esophagus or difficulty breathing.<br></li>
</ul> | | <h2>Signs and symptoms of GERD</h2>
<p>In a baby, symptoms of GERD may include:</p>
<ul>
<li>effortless spitting up of food or feedings with discomfort</li>
<li>coughing, when regurgitated food gets into the trachea (breathing tube)</li>
<li>irritability during feeding; the baby will arch their back, twist their neck or pull away from feeding</li>
<li>crying before or during feeding</li>
<li>poor weight gain<br></li>
</ul>
<p>In older children, signs and symptoms may include:</p>
<ul>
<li>dental cavities, caused by stomach acid </li>
<li>heartburn</li>
<li>a sour taste in the mouth</li>
<li>stomach and chest discomfort<br></li>
</ul> | <h2>Causes of GERD</h2>
<p>GERD occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter, which sits at the connection between the esophagus and the stomach, fails to properly close or relaxes incorrectly. This faulty valve allows food to travel all the way up the esophagus, causing "spit-up." When the food only travels partly up the esophagus, it may cause a burning sensation.</p> | | <h2>How a doctor can help your child</h2>
<p>Since vomiting and regurgitation are very common in babies in the first years of feeding, the doctor will need to determine whether the condition is simply GER (without 'D') or severe enough to warrant a GERD diagnosis and the relevant treatment. GERD is typically a clinical diagnosis. Sometimes tests are done to rule out conditions other than GERD that may have similar symptoms or complications to GERD.<br></p>
| | <h2>Complications</h2>
<p>Repeated exposure to stomach acid can lead to complications in some infants and children with GERD. These complications can include: </p>
<ul>
<li>poor weight gain or weight loss</li>
<li>feeding aversion or refusal<br></li>
<li>difficulty breathing or swallowing</li>
<li>irritation of the esophagus (esophagitis)</li>
</ul> | <h2>What you can do to help your child with gastroesophageal reflux</h2><p>Most infants and children outgrow the symptoms of GERD, but some require treatment. There are few a steps you can take to help ease the symptoms at home.</p><h3>Adjust feeding volumes<br></h3><p>In infants, avoid overfeeding. The feed timing and volume can be adjusted (smaller feeds more often), but it is important that the total amount fed in a day stays the same.</p><h3>Raise head</h3><p>Hold your child in an upright position after feeding. Sitting slumped in a chair or swing can increase the pressure on the stomach and can cause more reflux. </p><p>It is uncertain if elevating an infant’s head during sleep improves the symptoms of GERD. Because of the importance of sleeping on the back on a flat surface, for prevention of <a href="/article?contentid=460&language=english">SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome)</a>, experts do not recommend using positional therapy (head elevation, or lying on the side or tummy) to treat symptoms of GERD in sleeping infants.</p><p>Elevating the head or lying on the left side can be considered in older children.</p><h3>Thicken food</h3><p>Speak to your child's doctor about thickening your baby's formula with infant cereal. This has been shown to reduce the severity of regurgitation.<br></p><h3>Avoid certain foods</h3><p>Some infants with GERD have a sensitivity to cow’s milk protein. The symptoms for GERD and an allergy to cow’s milk protein are very similar. For formula-fed infants, after trying other interventions, speak to your child’s doctor about a trial of a special formula.</p><p>Older children should avoid certain foods that are more likely to worsen reflux. These foods include soda and pop, coffee, tomato-based products, citrus fruits, mint and spicy foods. Antacids can also relieve the indigestion or heartburn in older children. </p> | | <h2>When to seek medical assistance</h2><p>Make an appointment with your child's doctor if your child:</p><ul><li>is failing to gain weight</li><li>is starting to refuse to feed or only feeds when sleeping</li><li>is crying or extra irritable during feedings or while spitting up (effortless and painless spitting up is usually not a problem if gaining weight)<br></li><li>coughs during or after feeds</li></ul> | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | <h2>Source<br></h2><p>Rosen, R., Vandenplas, Y., Singendonk, M., Cabana, M., DiLorenzo, C., Gottrand, F., . . . Tabbers, M. (2018, March). Pediatric gastroesophageal reflux clinical practice guidelines ... <em>JPGN, 66</em>: 3. Retrieved from
<a href="https://www.naspghan.org/files/Pediatric_Gastroesophageal_Reflux_Clinical.33.pdf">https://www.naspghan.org/files/Pediatric_Gastroesophageal_Reflux_Clinical.33.pdf</a></p> | <img alt="" src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/gastroesophageal_reflux_disease.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/gastroesophageal_reflux_disease.jpg | | | | | | | Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) | | False | | | | | | | | |
