Infant Acid Reflux Disease - What You Need To Know
It may sound strange, but an even infant can get acid reflux disease. Acid reflux is a condition where acids in the stomach regurgitate back out of the stomach and into the esophagus. Over fifty percent of infants will experience some of the symptoms of the condition by the time they are three months old. It is a relatively common occurrence as the infant’s digestive system develops. So there’s little need to worry if your baby shows symptoms—they’ll likely grow out of it soon enough. By the age of 12-18 months, most babies are no longer experiencing GERD. Many parents worry that their child may been in serious danger. While this concern is normal and some cases of GERD have turned into something more serious, it is usually treatable. The tricky thing is knowing when an infant does have the condition. Since a baby obviously won’t come up and tell you, “I think I have acid reflux,” it’s important for parents to know exactly what to look for. If your baby cries shortly after mealtime (especially if the baby takes a nap after eating), shows a resistance to eating, begins coughing or vomiting, this may be the reason. Often a parent dismisses fussiness as simply a child with behavior problems. If your baby spits up a lot, this is another indicator. These symptoms are common in a host of diseases, but if they are regularly happening just after mealtime, this is a good hint. A pediatrician should be able to make an accurate diagnosis and let you know what can be done to relieve the situation. The pediatrician will likely advise you to try feeding the baby with a different formula and different eating positions. If this is unsuccessful, then medicine may be used to control the symptoms. GERD medications are relatively safe for your child when used properly. Those that have been tested have been approved by the Food & Drug Administration. Others are awaiting approval. Some parents are worried about long-term effects of their infant being on medication. There are a lot of unknowns in the medical profession. The best advice is to make the best decision you can based on current information about risks vs. rewards. There are some minor risks, but it may be riskier to let your baby develop poor eating habits or learn to internalize their pain. Infant GERD is often more stressful for the parents than for the child. Children with acid reflux will be uncomfortable at times, but they will continue to be their usual cheerful selves. Again, a healthcare professional can run a series of tests on the child to be able to confirm that they have infant acid reflux disease.
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