GERD In Infants -- Best Advice For Baby

By Richard Smith

GERD in infants should not be confused with reflux which is normal behaviour.
A child up to the age of one will commonly bring food up after a meal - many a good suit has been ruined by an innocent baby! Babies are learning all the time and their bodies developing and adjusting to feeding routines. Most babies will have developed coordination of their digestive system after a year.

However, some babies experience the frequent vomiting and other symptoms. GERD in infants is diagnosed when not only vomiting occurs, but also frequent coughing, abdominal pain, abnormal waking up in the night, refusing to eat and respiratory problems.
However, its important to remember that the above symptoms may not be GERD in infants but actually could be other childhood conditions such as colic, pneumonia or respiratory problems. As always with any strange symptoms for an infant, see your doctor.

As babies find communicating their symptoms difficult, a more accurate diagnosis of GERD in infants can be made using various tests. The most common of these is a pH test is common and measures the acidity in the stomach over a period of time.
An upper GI series is also a common test. The baby consumes a quantity of radioactive liquid (it is harmless, even for an infant) and X-rays are taken during the swallowing action. This may reveal a potential cause of GERD in infants such as a hiatal hernia or a constriction.

Treatment of GERD in infants is for the most part very similar to treatment for adults. You should try feeding the baby smaller amounts more often, elevate the head of the bed slightly, reduce food if the baby has been overfed and holding the child upright for half an hour after feeding.

If these solutions do not work, then GERD in infants can be treated with drugs or surgery, especially if respiratory problems are a concern.
Whatever the case, you should consult your doctor to establish an accurate diagnosis and agree a treatment program for your baby.

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An Introduction To Acid Reflux Disease

By Louise Bell

Many people are familiar with Acid Reflux disease whose primary symptoms are severe heartburn sometimes accompanied by an urge to vomit. Adults, children and infants can all suffer from reflux disease but the symptoms are not always easily recognizable.

Acid Reflux disease is more commonly referred to as GERD which stands for Gastro esophageal Reflex disease. It is a condition where the food tube becomes irritated and/or inflamed when a part of the stomach contents, which has been mixed with hydrochloric acid in the digestion process, is refluxed or regurgitated back into the esophagus. The situation usually happens when the sphincter muscle at the end of the esophagus fails to close properly after food has finally reached the stomach.

Although acid reflux disease, in the early stages, can be treated at home, when there are complications like severe chest pain that radiates towards the arm, neck or back, it becomes necessary to seek medical advice. Also significant is heartburn accompanied by vomiting blood, difficulty in swallowing solids or liquids along with dark coffee colored stools. So if you see these symptoms of acid reflux, do not delay, go to a physician as early as possible.

Reflux Disease Tests
In order to ascertain the extent of the damage caused by acid reflux, certain tests are done of which the Barium meal X ray of the upper gastrointestinal tract is a simple one. However, in more complicated cases, an upper GI endoscopy is recommended. Here a flexible probe along with a tiny camera is passed down the throat of the patient after sedation. The camera travels all through the esophagus, sending images to the doctor sitting in front of a monitor. This way, the damage to the esophagus, if any, can be easily assessed and medication, if required, provided.

Medications To Treat The Disease
The primary aim of medication in treating acid reflux is to block the production of enzymes needed to produce stomach acids. They are known as Proton Pump Inhibitors or PPIs. PPIs include Omeprazole, Esomeprazole, Lansoprazole, Rabeprazole, Pantaprazole, etc. Sometimes agents that promote the condition such as Metoclopramide and Bethanochol are also recommended to help tighten the lower esophageal sphincter and promote faster emptying of the stomach.

Preventing Acid Reflux Disease
The best way to prevent reflux disease from occurring is to alter the things that cause reflux. Some of them are listed below:
• Maintain a healthy body weight.

• Stay away from fatty or acidic food.

• Instead of having three heavy meals a day, eat smaller amounts every two or three hours.

• Refrain from eating anything three hours prior to going to bed.

• Avoid alcohol, coffee and beer.

• Keep an upright posture while sitting.

Acid Reflux disease, though not fatal, can cause a lot of irritation and problems so it is advisable to remedy the problem as soon as you identify the symptoms.

Louise Bell writes on health topics from a lay person's perspective. To find out more about a whole range of topics from acid reflux in infants to acid reflux vitamin u, for example, visit her Health Tips website - justhealthmatters.com - or click on the links above to go straight to the specific topic pages.
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Help Information About Acid Reflux in Infants

By Morgan Hamilton

Many adults think that acid reflux in infants is absurd but it does occur. If you are a parent, then you would like to know if your baby has the disorder. Of course, you will also be interested to know how to treat this condition. Let me give you some information that can help you identify the symptoms and some approaches you can take to treat acid reflux in infants.

Vomiting is one of the common symptoms of this disorder. Now, you have to take note that this is different from the common spit-up that parents face on a daily basis. Babies that have acid reflux in infants may suffer from excessive vomiting that reoccurs through the day and through the night as well. It would be a good idea to seek medical attention if your baby throws up significantly throughout the course of the day.

The other symptoms of this disorder are subtle and may be difficult to recognize. For instance, a baby may have acid reflux disease if that infant is suffering from a cough that does not seem to go away and has difficulty breathing. Heartburn and abdominal pain are symptoms that are difficult to detect simply because the baby can’t tell you what specifically is wrong.

Gas and stomach discomfort are also signs of acid reflux in infants. These symptoms usually go with fussiness and crying, especially during and right after feedings. A baby that is suffering from this disorder may also have difficulty eating. These more subtle symptoms resemble colic and it is important to note that the two conditions may be related in some cases. Colic and acid reflux in infants often go hand in hand.

Let us proceed with the treatment of acid reflux in infants. Babies usually outgrow the condition but it is crucial that you consult his pediatrician if you believe that your baby has acid reflux. You can also try to reduce the symptoms while you are waiting for your appointment.

The first thing that you may try is to elevate the baby’s head. It is important to keep the baby’s head elevated since the problem with the condition is that that the contents in the stomach come up into the esophagus. Hold the baby upright for about 30 minutes after each feeding to make sure that his stomach has settled completely. Of course, you don’t want to pile pillows under your baby’s little head. You can purchase raisers that can be put under the mattress in the crib or right in the bassinette. You can easily install these inexpensive items.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Acid Reflux in Infants. Visit our site for more helpful information about Natural Medicine For Acid Reflux and other similar topics.
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