As a parent, you might have been in complete control of your baby’s diet. However, when he grows older and starts school, it is hard to keep track of what he is exposed to and what he eats. Very often children don’t pay much attention to eating and tend to gulp their food up or eat something that does not agree with them. This tends to cause indigestion and acid reflux in your kid’s stomach.
Indigestion also called as dyspepsia, occurs in the upper part of the child’s abdomen, when he eats something that does not agree with him or eats it too fast. It can be accompanied by bloating, nausea, heartburn, and burping in most cases. Dyspepsia in children is often seen after a meal and is not cause for serious concern. It will resolve itself within a few hours.
Indigestion is usually caused when the acid from the stomach breaks down the protective lining of the digestive system leading to inflammation and irritation of the upper abdomen. Most children don’t have inflammation but the sensitivity of the protective lining called mucosa increases.
Understanding the cause of indigestion in children can be a key to offering the right remedy or treatment. Some of the common causes are:
Certain medications are known to cause heartburn in children. This is common if your child has a prescription for medicines that contain nitrate elements. These can cause the ring of muscle between the stomach and the oesophagus, called oesophageal sphincter, to relax. This, in turn, allows the stomach acid to leak and cause irritation to the protective lining of the digestive system.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Ibuprofen can also alter the functioning of the digestive system and cause the acids in the stomach to flare up causing indigestion.
This condition occurs due to repeated instances of indigestion in children causing inflammation and irritation of the oesophagus. This condition needs medical help.
Obesity causes the child to have additional pressure in the abdomen which will cause acid reflux in the oesophagus each time your child eats.
Hiatus Hernia is a condition where the stomach is pushing up against the diaphragm blocking the oesophagus. This can cause inefficient digestion and subsequent acid reflux.
In the event of stomach ulcers, the wall of the stomach in your kid will have open sores which contribute to the problem of indigestion. It is also possible for frequent instances of indigestion to give rise to a very serious health condition like stomach cancer. These conditions require due medical intervention at the right time. Left untreated, they can lead to a lot of health problems in your child.
This is a form of stomach infection with regular indigestion as its singular symptom. This infection can even lead to stomach ulcers and cancers in the child. It is of paramount importance that you consult a doctor to check for infections in case your child has severe indigestion on a regular basis.
Stress and anxiety can cause irregular eating as well as sleeping habits. This can lead to indigestion in indigestion in your kid.
The first sign of indigestion is the pain in the upper abdomen area that occurs immediately after eating. However, in some cases, there can be a delay before the symptoms surface. Indigestion is commonly accompanied by heartburn. In cases of severe indigestion, your child may complain of unbearable pain.
Some of the common signs of indigestion are:
While most cases of indigestion in children do not require treatment from a medical practitioner, in case the symptoms persist for more than a few hours, you may need to make a visit to your child’s doctor.
The doctor will conduct a diagnosis by pressing the area around the stomach to understand the location of the pain. You will need to tell the doctor all the details about the symptoms, your child’s eating habits and give him information about any medication that your child is on.
Based on the diagnosis, he may prescribe a course of medicines or recommend further tests like an X-ray or scan of the abdomen. If he suspects infection, a urine and stool test may also be asked for. In very rare cases, your child may need an endoscopy to enable the doctor to get a better look at the digestive tract.
Mild antacids are given to cure indigestion in children at the outset. If the indigestion is occasional and does not have an underlying cause, you will be asked to change your child’s diet and avoid certain foods. If your child has regular indigestion at night, then you will be asked to give him dinner two to three hours prior to bedtime.
Indigestion caused by stress and anxiety can be prevented by dealing with the root cause and ensuring that you provide a stress-free environment for your child.
In case the symptoms of indigestion do not subside on its own or home remedies have no effect on them, you can give your kid some gastric contracting medicine. Domperidone maleate can help prevent acid reflux when given to your child before every meal for over four weeks. You will need to give it to your child 15 to 30 minutes before each meal.
Antacids like Trums, Maalox or Gaviscon are also beneficial. It is suggested that you consult with a doctor before giving over the counter medicines to children.
If your child has a sensitive digestive system, it is important that you establish some dietary restrictions. Keep your child away from eating anything irregular that doesn’t suit his stomach. You can follow the following tips to prevent indigestion in children.
Mild cases of indigestion common in children can be alleviated with a good home remedy. Some of the best home remedies for indigestion in children are:
Pineapples are rich with strong acids and are known to neutralize and regulate the bowel system while aiding digestion.
A glass of lemon juice is one of the best home remedies to cure indigestion. It is safe and can provide relief under 48 hours.
Take the juice out of two twigs of coriander leaves and mix it with warm milk and make your child drink it on an empty stomach in the morning. This herb is an effective and quick cure for indigestion.
Chewing mint leaves is a great remedy for most stomach related issues. Mint leaves contain peppermint which aids the contraction of the gastrointestinal tract. It is also known to be an effective cure for stomach infections and heartburn.
A combination of these three natural ingredients can calm an irritated stomach and digestive system.
Apple Cider Vinegar is a wonderful remedy for most ailments and indigestion makes the list too. Add one spoon of apple cider vinegar and honey in a cup of water and mix well. Give this drink to your child to soothe the digestive tract.
Cumin can increase the secretion of enzymes from the pancreas and aid digestion. You will need to roast cumin and powder it. Mix this powder in a glass of water and give it to your child to drink.
Fruits like apples, chikoos, pears, bananas, etc, which are rich in fibre are effective remedies to both soothe and stimulate the digestive system and also prevent indigestion. It is best to make fruits a part of your child’s daily diet.
There are many herbal tea variants like peppermint and chamomile tea that offer great relief in the case of indigestion. If your child feels any discomfort or experiences indigestion after a heavy meal, herbal tea can provide effective relief.
Amla or Indian gooseberry juice can also help soothe an irritated stomach and aid digestion as it is rich in fibre and also stimulates digestive juices.
If your child is prone to indigestion or is suffering from indigestion, here are a few steps you could follow to take care of your child.
If your child is showing the following signs, then it is advised that you take him to a paediatrician immediately.
Indigestion is a condition common in many children and adults as well. However, care should be taken to track and monitor the condition closely and seek medical help if you suspect anything out of order.