Also called: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, GERD, Reflux, Heartburn, Acid Indigestion
Gastroesophageal reflux (GER), or reflux, is when food and acid from the stomach go back up into the esophagus. This is often brief, and people don’t notice it happening. But sometimes it causes an uncomfortable feeling in the chest, neck, and throat, often called heartburn or acid indigestion.
Reflux can happen in adults and kids, even babies. It’s normal and most kids who have gastroesophageal (gass-troh-eh-soff-eh-JEE-el) reflux outgrow it over time. Changes in diet can help, but some kids might need medical treatment.
Reflux that happens a lot or causes problems like poor growth, vomiting, or damage to the esophagus is called GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). GERD is more serious than GER and is sometimes treated with medicine.
Common signs of reflux in kids include:
Some symptoms may get worse if a child lies down after a meal. It’s OK to have reflux symptoms once in a while. But if they happen a lot, a child could have GERD.
A ring of muscle (the lower esophageal sphincter) separates the esophagus from the stomach. Reflux symptoms happen if this ring relaxes at the wrong time or doesn't close as it should. This lets acidic fluid from the stomach flow backward into the esophagus, into the back of the throat, and sometimes out the mouth or nose.
Repeated reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus can lead to:
Kids with developmental or neurological conditions, such as cerebral palsy, are more at risk for reflux and can have more severe, lasting symptoms.
To diagnose reflux in kids, doctors usually do an exam and ask about the symptoms. If your child has reflux symptoms, try to keep track of the foods that seem to cause them. This can help the doctor figure out what's going on.
Kids with long-lasting symptoms may need to see a pediatric gastroenterologist (GI). Medical tests might be done in those cases too, such as:
Many things can help kids with reflux feel better. Encourage your child to:
If your child is older and reflux happens at night, raise the head of their bed 6–8 inches. Reminder: Infants younger than 1 year old, including those with GER, should always sleep on their backs on a flat, firm surface.
If your child takes medicines for other conditions, talk to the doctor or pharmacist about how they take them. For example, stopping some medicines or taking them with food or at different times of day can help.
If symptoms continue, doctors might prescribe medicine, such as:
Rarely, medical treatment alone doesn't help enough. Then, a surgical procedure called fundoplication (fun-doh-plih-KAY-shun) might be an option. The surgeon creates a valve at the top of the stomach by wrapping part of the stomach around the esophagus to strengthen the sphincter and prevent reflux. Most kids who need this surgery also have a neurological condition, like cerebral palsy.
Call your doctor if an older child with GER:
Go to the ER right away if your child has severe chest pain or feels like food has gotten stuck while swallowing.
Kids with reflux might worry about their symptoms. Reassure them that avoiding the things that trigger symptoms and other simple changes can help them feel better.
Reviewed by: Melanie L. Pitone, MD
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2024
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