Treating Acid Reflux in Infants
Over half of all infants experience the effects of
acid reflux disease during the first three months after they are born.
The symptoms they exhibit can include vomiting, spitting up,
irritability, coughing, bloody stools, and not wanting to eat. The
majority of infants do not experience anything more then mild symptoms
and fortunately most infants begin to grow out of it at around 12 to 18
months.
For those infants who are not fortunate enough to outgrow the effects of
acid reflux their symptoms may become more severe over time. Many times
if GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease) does not go away in an infant
it is the result of some other disease or disorder which needs to be
evaluated by a doctor. More severe symptoms of acid reflux in infants
includes slow or stunted growth, refusing to eat or failure to keep food
down, and even blood loss from the burning of the esophagus.
Be on the alert for projectile vomiting that is green or yellow in
appearance. Also check to see if it looks like there are coffee grounds
or blood in the vomit as well as your child having difficulty breathing
or finds it painful to swallow. These are all the signs of acid reflux
and need the immediate attention of a doctor.
The first thing any good pediatrician will recommend for an infant with
acid reflux is a change in diet and how the baby is being fed. In fact
just holding a baby in a more upright position during feeding can make a
big difference. Over feeding also needs to be avoided as it will
exacerbate GERD. A smaller amount of formula fed more often through out
the day is the best way to avoid the symptoms of acid reflux in infants.
Here's a quick tip you can try when feeding your infant: Take one
tablespoon of rice cereal and mix it with 2 ounces of baby formula or
milk in your baby's bottle. After this is fed be sure to burp the baby
and hold the baby in an upright position for up to 30 minutes after
burping.
In addition to dietary changes your child's pediatrician may also
prescribe medications to further treat the symptoms. These medications
are available either over the counter or through a prescription and come
in two forms; H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors. The primary goal
of using acid reflux medications is to reduce the amount of acid in the
stomach.
The good news as stated earlier is that most infants will outgrow this
disease. Acid reflux in infants is usually short lived with very few
carrying their symptoms into their adolescent and teenage years. The
best place to start if you suspect your baby has acid reflux is a visit
to your pediatrician.
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