Acid Reflux in Babies

Acid reflux disease is a condition where there is regurgitation of food through the esophagus after ingestion. Acid reflux disease is also called gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. And the symptoms of acid reflux in babies are called spitting up.

Why is acid reflux considered normal in babies?
Newborn babies have relatively weak digestive systems. The alimentary canal still needs to get used to working, as till the baby is in the womb, food and nutrition is exchanged and absorbed directly from the mothers blood. Hence, sometimes for up to three months the baby may expunge the ingested food. In such cases, there is regurgitation of the mothers breast milk, which is normally expunged as a semi-solid white mass. However, if this condition persists even after three months or occurs very frequently like, after every feed, to such an extent that the baby refuses to eat and becomes weak and irritable, then this may be a tell-tale sign of acid reflux. In such cases, regurgitation is normally seen after the baby is breast fed, but it may also occur at other times, like when the baby coughs, sneezes or cries. If this occurs, then it needs the immediate attention of the parents. This is a serious condition that may show one or more of the following symptoms:

Symptoms of Acid Reflux in Babies

• Refusal of the baby to eat
• Irritability while being fed
• Constant crying
• Frequent regurgitation of ingested milk
• Frequent hiccups and coughing
• Inability of the infant to sleep at night due to irritability and hunger
• Sudden and stiff arching of the back while feeding
• In infant acid reflux, there is often poor weight gain or weight loss of the infant
• Drooling from the corners of the mouth
• The baby feels pain when the stomach is touched or compressed. Also, the baby very shifty while sleeping

Diagnosis of Acid Reflux in Babies
Acid reflux can be diagnosed using a number of tests. These include blood and urine tests to check for any infection that the baby may be having. Another test which can be done is to monitor the pH of the baby's esophagus. This will measure the acidity level in the esophagus. In severe cases of acid reflux in infants, an endoscopy can also be done to check for any internally malfunctioning gland or sphincter. This is a relatively invasive procedure and is done only as a last resort if all the other tests come negative and the baby is growing progressively weak.

Treatment of Acid Reflux in Babies
In the symptoms of acid reflux in infants, the root cause of the problem needs to be addressed. If there is an infection, then it is of utmost importance that is treated immediately, as the colic pain will make the baby restless. Also, the immune system of babies is not fully developed, hence, infections of any kind need to be eliminated first. There are certain syrups available for treating colicky pain in infants. These were a variety of options available for acid reflux treatment in infants. However, if despite administration of oral antibiotics, there is no significant amount of relief for the infant, then it's best to consult a doctor immediately and seek proper treatment.

These were the symptoms and treatment options available in cases of acid reflux in babies. It's best to get alarmed when reflux symptoms start appearing too often, to such an extent that the baby is irritable and underfed. Thus, be attentive parents and always make efforts to ensure that your precious little one remains healthy and fit!