Reflux, also called Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and acid reflux, is a common problems for infants.
It occurs when the child's stomach contents persistently comes back out of the stomach into the esophagus and frequently causes spitting up, but not always.
This may not cause any significant symptoms and if the child is acting well and gaining weight nicely, no treatment is needed.
For those children who are getting increasingly more fussy, not gaining weight briskly or both, there are several treatment options.
Initially, it's best to identify if they are overfeeding which can occur with both breast fed and bottle fed kids.
If this is not the case, keeping the child elevated for 20-30 minutes after feeding, frequent burping, slightly elevating the head of the bed and thickening bottle feeds with some rice cereal may be very helpful.
If the child continues to be symptomatic, there are medicines your pediatrician can prescribe that will decrease the stomach acid and/or increase the intestinal motility.
Families First Pediatrics is located at 1268 West South Jordan Parkway in South Jordan. (801) 254-9700.
For more information, please visit their website:
http://www.ffpeds.com.
