Infant Acid Reflux - Does It Really Exist?

Infant Acid Reflux: Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) or acid reflux can be found in infants just as it can be found in adults. Unlike acid reflux in adults, infant acid reflux is often very hard to detect.

Detecting infant acid reflux is very difficult because their symptoms may vary from the typical adult symptoms of acid reflux. In infants, acid reflux may cause repeated vomiting, bad breath, coughing and respiratory problems.

In addition, infants suffering from acid reflux may exhibit inconsolable crying, refusing food, inadequate weight gain, effortless spitting up (without being burped) and frequent burping.

Infants with acid reflux may display only one symptom of acid reflux or a combination of different symptoms. With infants experiencing acid reflux, often times no one symptom is universal.

Acid reflux is a medical condition is which food and stomach acids a permitted to flow back up into the esophagus. This reverse flow of stomach acids is called reflux. A ring of muscles called the lower esophageal sphincter lies at the bottom of the esophagus.

The lower esophageal sphincter opens and closes to allow eaten food to enter the stomach for digestion. Although the lower esophageal sphincter also opens to release gas after meals, it can also release stomach acids along with the contents of the stomach back into the esophagus.

In an infant child, this form of acid reflux is shown in the sign of the infant spitting up. Vomiting is also a common symptom in infants with acid reflux. Although spitting ups is generally seen during and shortly after an infant is fed, it can be seen at other times.

Reflux can occur in infants during crying, coughing and when the infant strains. Acid reflux typically occurs during the first three months of an infant’s life. Since acid reflux is very common in newborn infants, most infants exhibiting acid reflux do not require medical treatment.

A small percentage of infants with acid reflux do, however, need medical evaluation and treatment due to the severity of their acid reflux symptoms.

It is estimated that approximately 35% of babies born in the United States have acid reflux problems in the first few month after they are born.

The digestive system of the infant child is usually the cause of their acid reflux. The digestive system of the infant child is still in its immature stages.

Most infants will grow out of their acid reflux symptoms; however, many do not grow out of the condition.

Typically, an infant will grow out of acid reflux by the time they are one year old.

Symptoms of Inafant Acid Reflux :

Spitting up or vomiting frequently
Irritability during feeding
Refusing food
Eating only small amounts of food
Arched back (while feeding)
Frequent hiccups
Coughing frequently
Poor sleep habits
Waking up frequently
Bad breath
Difficulty swallowing
Weight loss or insufficient weight gain
Respiratory problems (asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, wheezing etc.)
Excessive drooling
Spells of not breathing
Hoarse sounding vocals

The treatment of acid reflux in infants depends on the severity of his or her symptoms. It is very common for infants to grow out of acid reflux by the time they are one year old. If an infant is plagued with more serious acid reflux symptoms, they may be prescribed medications.

In addition, some doctors may recommend lifestyle changes or over-the-counter medications for the infant child. Some of the most common treatments prescribed by doctors include antacids, acid suppressors and acid blockers.

Antacid medications prescribed for infants with neutralize the stomach acids. Prescribed acid suppressors will suppress the acid production in the stomach of the infant. An acid blocker will block the acid production in the stomach completely. The treatment of infant acid reflux depends on the severity of his or her symptoms and is to be decided by a doctor.


	Home Acid Reflux Articles Acid reflux diet acid reflux disease acid reflux home remedy acid reflux symptoms infant acid reflux