Infant Acid Reflux: Treatment for Acid Reflux in Babies

Acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux, is a common problem among infants that is characterized by spitting up or expulsion of the stomach content, during or just after feeding. The problem is usually prevalent in the early months of life and then slowly subsides between the 6th and the 12 month. For the majority of the babies, acid reflux does not cause much trouble, as babies may not experience any other problem except spitting. In such a situation, no treatment is required, and slight modifications in eating habits and lifestyle can considerably control the situation. But sometimes, it can lead to certain serious conditions that can cause other health problems.

Causes and Symptoms of Acid Reflux in Babies

Acid reflux is usually a result of poor coordination of the gastrointestinal tract, where acid and abdominal content flow back into the esophagus. The esophagus is a muscular tube that is responsible for connecting the throat to the stomach. A tough muscle of the esophagus, known as esophageal sphincter, allows food to move out of the esophagus to the stomach and at the same time prevents any reverse flow. Therefore, acid reflux can be caused by the malfunctioning or immaturity of this muscle. In addition to this, dietary habits like overfeeding or underfeeding, can cause indigestion and acid reflux in infants.

The most common symptom of acid reflux is spitting or vomiting, several times a day. Infants also show a reluctance to feed or eat properly, as it often leads to discomfort. They can experience a burning sensation in the chest and throat. If food from the esophagus passes to the lungs, it can cause wheezing and gasping. Some other acid reflux symptoms include coughing, crying after feeding, bad breath, gas regurgitation and re-swallowing.

Treatment for Acid Reflux in Babies

Most of the time, acid reflux does not require any treatment, as it usually subsides on its own with age. But you can also control the situation by making certain changes in the lifestyle and dietary habits. You should avoid underfeeding or overfeeding your baby. Instead, babies should be given frequent, small meals. It is also important to feed your baby in the right position. They should be held in an upright position during feeding and also for half an hour after feeding. Thickening the formula and burping your baby several times during feeding, can be helpful in relieving the symptoms of acid reflux.

If you are breastfeeding your baby, then it is important to avoid or reduce the amount of certain foods like chocolate, garlic and caffeine, as they are believed to have reflux promoting effects. The sleeping position can also play a significant role, as sleeping in a slightly elevated position can help keep the food and acid in the stomach and thereby prevent reflux during nighttime.

However, if all these measures fail to bring relief to your child and there is ground to believe that acid reflux is affecting your babies normal rate of growth and development, then you should better consult your physician for a proper treatment. The physician may evaluate the symptoms and perform some physical tests to diagnose the disease. For treating acid reflux in babies, they may prescribe acid blockers, also known as H2 blockers, and acid suppressors like proton pump inhibitors to block the production of acid in the stomach, in addition to changes in the lifestyle and feeding habits. In severe cases of infant acid reflux, surgery may be an important treatment option to tighten the esophageal sphincter in order to prevent reflux.

Sometimes acid reflux can lead to certain serious conditions like poor growth, spitting blood and esophageal damage. Therefore, it is very important to regularly monitor the symptoms and seek the advice of an experienced physician for treating acid reflux in babies.