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.
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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