children s health issues
Gastroesophageal Reflux in Children
Introduction
Gastroesophageal reflux is the backward movement of food and acid from the stomach into the esophagus and sometimes into the mouth. Reflux may be caused by the infant’s position during feeding; overfeeding; exposure tocaffeine,nicotine, and cigarette smoke; a food intolerance or allergy; or an abnormality of the digestive tract. Infants may vomit, spit up excessively, have feeding or breathing problems, and also appear irritable. Tests that help doctors diagnose the disorder include a barium study, an esophageal pH probe, a gastric emptying scan, endoscopy, and sometimes ultrasonography. Treatment options include thickened or hypoallergenic formula for feedings, special positioning, frequent burping, sometimes medications, and, in severe cases, surgery. (For adults, see Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) .) Nearly all infants have episodes of gastroesophageal reflux, which are characterized by spitting up fluid or food, usually soon after eating and sometimes when they are being burped. Reflux typically worsens in the first several months of life, peaks around 6 to 7 months of age, and then gradually lessens. Nearly all infants with reflux outgrow it by about 18 months of age. Gastroesophageal reflux becomes known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) when it Interferes with feeding and growth Damages the esophagus (esophagitis) Leads to breathing difficulties (such as coughing, wheezing, or stopping breathing) Continues beyond infancy into childhood 