GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease is a condition that primarily affects a muscle called the lower oesophageal sphincter or the LES. This muscle is located in the lower oesophagus close to the stomach. The condition can afflict both adults and babies.
GERD in adults can be the cause of gas, heart burn, and acidic indigestion. In babies, GERD can lead to drooling more than usual, spitting up, vomiting and irritability. This can lead to breathing problems and tummy aches too. GERD can also lead to acid reflux in infants.
It is believed that infant gastroesophageal reflux is as harmless as its adult variant. GERD or reflux is not considered a serious condition and does not impair growth or capabilities of the child.
It is common for babies to spit up or vomit after a meal ever so often. However, if it becomes frequent, there is a strong likelihood of GERD. Many a time, a poorly coordinated gastrointestinal tract is responsible for GERD. Babies have a developing digestion track, and naturally, have a weak LES which leads to spitting up or vomiting on occasion. This can very easily escalate into GERD.
Studies by the National Digestive Disease Clearinghouse indicate that most children grow out of GERD by their first birthday. They hypothesize that the child’s immature digestive system might be the reason for most baby reflux tendencies.
In most cases, GERD is caused due to the LES not functioning properly or not having developed sufficiently. In some cases, it can be due to the diet of a mother, especially around the breastfeeding stages. There are multiple other causes for GERD in slightly older children:
An important point to keep in mind is that a child is more susceptible to GERD if they had it at a younger age.
Symptoms of GERD are extremely hard to identify because it is challenging to differentiate between the normal occurrence of a baby vomiting after feeding formula and GERD. If the symptoms are so similar then how do you know if your baby has acid reflux or GERD?
To get a proper diagnosis, it is best to consult your doctor. There are other signs you can look out for in the meanwhile, like:
To better understand all the symptoms of GERD, visit your local healthcare specialist.
In most cases, doctors diagnose GERD through symptomatic history. It also helps to know the diet history and growth chart for the child. There are, however, further tests that can help with the diagnosis of GERD:
Your doctor will recommend the above tests if he deems they are necessary to diagnose GERD and reflux in your child.
Your baby may be at risk for GERD due to numerous pre-existing conditions and external reasons:
Severe allergic reactions and infections are known to aggravate GERD and can also be a cause for it. If your baby has a weak gastrointestinal tract, they may have episodes of GERD.
Depending on the severity of the GERD, the treatment varies.
The most common types of GERD can be treated with medication. Mild GERD is usually treated by administration of oral medication. This can be both preventive and SOS based. The preventive GERD is usually a course of medication that is taken 30 minutes before breakfast, and in slightly more severe cases, 30 mins before dinner. You can use anti-acids to treat heavy belching that maybe a sign of GERD. In cases of more severe GERD, doctors may inject medication as the time the medicine takes to act is much quicker. This is usually given in smaller doses for infants. Consult your physician before administering acid reflux medicine for babies.
There are numerous drugs (like pantoprazole) that can be used to help control reflux. These medicines are largely sold over the counter. Talk to your physician before administering any drug to your child.
In extremely severe cases, some people may need surgery for GERD. This is extremely rare for infants.
In severe cases, where the infant suffers from breathing issues or has stunted growth due to acid reflux, your paediatrician will suggest a surgery called fundoplication. In this surgery, the surgeon will tighten the LES so that less stomach acids will flow back into the oesophagus. This surgery is extremely rare and is tried only if all other options with medications do not work.
More than 95% of all babies outgrow GERD by the time they are one-year old. Very few toddlers will continue to display symptoms of the condition. However, it can occur in older children too.
Most babies outgrow GERD in their first year. In the next couple of years, you should see all signs and symptoms of GERD disappearing entirely.
GERD could result in the following:
While feeding, you can try a few steps that could greatly improve your baby’s unease.
GERD can be a very uncomfortable condition for your baby. Talk to your healthcare professional about the different options available to alleviate the stress on your baby.