Infant acid reflux: causes, symptoms and treatments

What happens if your baby, which seems very healthy otherwise occurs after meals several times a day? This is something that as a father should be concerned about? Could it be a signal that suffer from infant acid reflux?

Wet belching, regurgitation and vomiting are some of the terms used to describe the problem of your child. More recently, doctors have begun to call GERD (Gastroesophageal infant acid reflux disease). Infant acid reflux is very common and affects 40% of the babies. It also occurs in children and involves breastfed and formula fed babies.

Almost always resolved by one year of age.  Many parents take child calmly acid reflux, while others worry because the spit dirty your clothes, furniture and carpets. They feel uncomfortable to take the baby in public, or to visit friends. Some parents concerns a disease or other physical problem must be causing the spit.

A visit to the doctor, nurse or dietitian usually starts by having a history of food to see how feeds the baby, if you are overfeeding and how burping the baby.

Often be spitting child has a lot to do with supercharger. Baby vomit when they have too much milk for the size of your stomach. This can occur both in a breastfeeding and the fed baby's bottle.  Sometimes the baby is the problem. At other times, it is the parents.

How to grow your baby?
It is a healthy habit to weigh your baby at every doctor visit and record the weight in a graph. There is little chance of a disease if your baby is growing normally.

How can he is breathing the baby?
Research may be needed if the baby is always a wheezing or coughing. This sometimes indicates a chest to infant acid reflux reaction. Meanwhile, do not let anyone smoke in the House. Second hand smoke encourages infant acid reflux and bad for the baby in many other ways.

Natural is that parents who worry about the baby. Vomiting, may sometimes indicate a more serious problem. Your doctor should consider your baby and see if there are signs of disease. However, it is not normally needed more medical tests. Most authorities recommend the doctor starts for the first time with simple tips.
Power: If the child seems to hunger, try smaller and more frequent meals
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Positioning: Placement of the child in a seat after meals will cause more vomiting if the child slumps forward and puts pressure on the stomach. Try placing the child in his side after meals. Placement of the child in the womb usually decreases vomiting. However, it is important to use a firm surface. Placement of the child in her womb in soft blankets and duvets are believed that you one of the factors in the crib death.

Thicken food: Add grains of rice to the formula. Start with one tablespoon of two ounces. This has been shown to decrease infant acid reflux, but you will need to enlarge the hole of nipple. Recently, the pre-thickened of infant formula has become available. This formula can be easier to prepare and it has been shown that the decrease of vomiting. A breastfed baby can be fed grain after food.

Many concerned parents are quick to envelope the antacid counter like Maalox or Mylanta to help reduce acid reflux in his son. While it is OK to use for a limited period of time as they do not fall into the bloodstream, they contain aluminum, and probably should not be used for an extended period of time.
Cimetidine and ranitidine used to block the acid in the stomach for babies who have inflammation of the esophagus (esophagitis).

The most important thing to remember is that a child suffering from infant acid reflux is usually a healthy baby. He vomits probably for the same reason can not walk or talk. Coordination is required to keep the food in the stomach. The baby not being fully coordinate up to one year of age. Consult your physician if vomiting continues beyond this time.

Acid reflux in children

Acid reflux in children is a nasty, painful and life-threatening condition. Now known that the acid reflux is a hereditary disease. Gastroesophageal reflux is the reflux of acid from the stomach in the throat. In adults, heartburn is called and often hurts enough to simulate a heart attack.  In children, the problem is dismissed frequently as "spitting up" or colic. But in severe cases can cause lung damage, asthma, chronic ear infections of the sinuses, dental problems, vocal cord and even cancer of the esophagus.
When the child suffers from frequent vomiting, often not gain enough weight. And some doctors believe that many cases of sudden infant death syndrome are caused by asphyxia in content gastric reflux.
Your child might suffer from GERD when you feel a burning sensation in his chest, starting behind the breastbone and move his neck and throat. It is caused when a muscle that connects the stomach to the esophagus, called the lower esophageal sphincter, or them, it is weak or relaxes inappropriately, allowing that the acid in the stomach to move into the esophagus.
Children who have frequent episodes of acid reflux can develop erosion of the esophagus, a condition called GERD or gastroesophageal reflux. The severity of the disease depends on the type and amount of fluid from the stomach and the neutralizing effect of saliva-bred.
How many children suffer from acid reflux?
While the experience of more than 60 million U.S. adults heartburn at least once a month, and about 25 million suffer daily attacks of the most severe form, GERD and 25 per cent of pregnant women also complain of daily heartburn, and more than 50 per cent has occasional heartburn, the exact number of children suffering is not known.  However, studies have shown that GERD is most common in infants and children than previously recognized.
Symptoms of acid reflux in children
Acid is the most common symptom. The burning sensation, pressure or pain of heartburn can last for two hours and is often worse after eating.  Lying down or bending over can result in acidity. Walking may reduce symptoms. Certain foods such as chocolate, mint and fried or fatty foods have been associated with repeated heartburn or acid reflux in children.
Treatment options for acid reflux in children
Most parents try to give to their common children antacid resources available over the counter, which can provide temporary relief. Changes in your child's diet and eating habits can improve the situation. It's reducing the size of the portions and not eat before bedtime. Elevate the head of the bed of his son of 6 inches can reduce episodes of acidity in the night.
Medications known as H2 blockers, which inhibit the secretion of acid in the stomach, are available at the desk, including brands such as Tagamet, Zantac and Pepcid AC.
A class of drugs called Proton pump or pumps for acid , works by inhibiting an enzyme in the stomach acid - producing cells.
Some severe cases of acid reflux in children may require surgery called fundoplication using laparoscopic techniques. The surgery is to adjust the stomach into the esophagus and the sewn himself to strengthen the muscle between the esophagus and the stomach.
The positive effects of the surgery may be temporary, however. Many patients eventually return to medications used for recurrent symptoms of acid reflux.

Acid reflux in infants

Heartburn is big business for pharmaceutical companies and a big bellyache for those affected. Doctors know how GRED (gastroesophageal reflux disease), and it's not just for adults. Infant acid reflux is a very common problem, and can shake even the more experienced father. In a small minority, it can also lead to some frightening complications. In many cases, the acid reflux in infants can be difficult to diagnose. Regurgitation, fussiness is the most common symptom. Doctors know the babies can be fussy for any number of reasons. What sets apart reflux is a baby crying frequently occurs at the same time a baby spits up. These tandem symptoms could occur at any time during or between meals, but are usually worse during feeding or when the baby is established.

Acid reflux in baby reflux peaks in four or five months but it can occur in much younger infants and can hit in more than 12 months. The good news is that as well as the ability to walk and talk develops the capacity for better control of the gastrointestinal tract improves with age. Which is why reflux is something every baby exceeds eventually.

In rare cases, babies may develop other frightening side effects with gastroesophageal reflux. Because airway constrains and close in response to a noxious stimulus like acid reflux, a baby can stop breathing, turn blue and they even show a decline of oxygen in the blood. Some babies may have difficulty to catch his breath after some of these episodes. Neurological tests may be ordered to rule out other causes.

What causes of acid reflux in infants?

In the majority of babies, acid reflux is the result of a gastrointestinal tract with incorrect format. Most children suffering from reflux acid otherwise is perfectly healthy; However, other serious problems with the brain of infants, can occur even nerves and muscles.

For older children, the cause of acid reflux can be very similar to those found in adults. Things that cause the valve that extends between the stomach and the esophagus to relax, or things that increase the pressure below the ISS can lead to acid reflux in adolescents. For many, the acid reflux in infants is caused by excess weight or overeating. In addition, certain foods, dinks and even sale free and prescription medications can lead to a flame of acid reflux.  Also appears to be a genetic factor at work: often children born in families who have a family history of acid reflux symptoms.

What are the symptoms of acid reflux in infants?

The most common symptoms are:

1 Vomiting constantly.

2. A cough that seems that never disappears.

3. Frequent gas, acidity, cramps or indeferentes behaviour, distortable which seems to calm down.

4 Food that emerges and is re-swallowed.

In infants, some problems you can experience your child are as follows:

ColicTrouble eatingConstant gaggingSlow developmentLabored breathingFrequent episodes of pneumonia

In my infant acid reflux disappear only their own?

In most cases the acid reflux you see in your baby will disappear their own. Reflux can, however, and they occur in much older children. Parents should not fear, as acid reflux in infants is easily treatable.

What is acid reflux in children diagnosed?

In most cases, observations of parents provide sufficient information for the physician make an accurate diagnosis of acid reflux.   If the symptoms are problematic at all, you can run the following tests to determine if your child is suffering from GERD.

survey of pH. Most doctors believe that it is the best test for acid reflux in infants.  For this test, a thin tube with a probe at the end is inserted through the nose into the esophagus. The tip is placed in the bottom of the esophagus and records of survey the levels of acid in the stomach into the esophagus. Readings are taken up to a day and the results can normally give your doctor a good indication of whether the child has acid reflux.

Upper GI: proof of an x-ray that highlights the part of the esophagus, stomach and the upper part of the intestine while the use of barium. Doctors are able to determine if there is a blockage in the esophagus through this test.

Upper GI endoscopy.  For this medical examination you will use an endoscope into the esophagus, stomach and the upper part of the small intestine. They can take biopsies of esophagus obtained at the time of endoscopy can help determine if there is GERD.

Study of gastric emptying.  For this test, your child is drinking milk or eating a food mixed with a special chemical. As chemistry makes his way through his son esophagus and stomach, a special camera trace their route and you can help determine if your child is suffering from acid reflux. .

What are the treatments for acid reflux in infants and children?

Treatments to resolve his son GERD involve both ideas of common sense, as well as medicines.  Along with the use of the paediatric form of Zantac, children with reflux should be placed in an upright position for 30 to 40 minutes after meals. Sometimes change the formula for your baby to a brand that is easier on the stomach of the baby can greatly reduce the symptoms of acid reflux. Another technique that has been known to decrease the acid reflux in infants is to thicken the formula for your baby with infant rice cereal.

Other support includes raising the head of the bed with bricks or phone books under the frame of the bed, but never under the mattress. All these things help food stay below in the stomach.

Although they can prescribe medications prescribed for her son, generally not reduce reflux, but it can reduce the acid in what comes up. Prevacid and Zantac can provide to help keep baby comfortable until it exceeds the capacity of reflux. Surgery is almost always the last resort and reserved for the most extreme cases.

Approximately half of the babies exceed reflux by 6 months of age, while others take about 12 months. Small percentages have a more severe case and more; These infants may require medications to decrease the secretion of acid in your stomach.