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While throwing up after a meal is quite normal for infants or toddlers – to the chagrin of parents – frequent vomiting in children may be a sign of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD).
The burping, heartburn, and spitting up associated with GORD are the result of acidic stomach contents moving backward into the oesophagus (reflux). This can happen because the muscle that connects the oesophagus with the stomach (the oesophageal sphincter) relaxes at the wrong time or doesn't close properly.
The most common symptoms of reflux in children include recurrent vomiting accompanied by a persistent cough. Children who suffer from reflex have difficulty eating, and may refuse to eat altogether. Kids often complain of a sour taste in their mouth.
Doctors advise parents to report ongoing abdominal pain in their infants, or colicky behaviour (frequent crying and fussiness) associated with feeding.
Older children
In older children, certain factors also may contribute to GORD, including obesity, overeating, eating spicy or fried foods, drinking caffeine, and specific medication. There also appears to be an inherited component to GORD, as it's more common in some families than in others.
If an infant appears healthy, has good growth, and seems to have typical GORD, the infant usually doesn't need tests or treatment. Even if a paediatrician suspects GORD, simple feeding changes can often reduce symptoms.
In some cases, a health-care provider may order tests to help determine whether the infant’s symptoms relate to GORD or another medical condition and require medication. A health-care provider may refer an infant with suspected GORD to a paediatric gastroenterologist, a doctor who specialises in children’s digestive diseases, for diagnosis and treatment.
A few tips
To minimise reflux, consider these tips:
• Keep your baby upright. Feed your baby in an upright position, and hold them in a sitting position for 30 minutes afterwards, if possible. Gravity can help stomach contents stay where they belong. Be careful not to jostle or jiggle your baby while the food is settling.
• Try smaller, more frequent feedings. Feed your baby slightly less than usual if you're bottle-feeding, or cut back a little on the amount of nursing time if you're breastfeeding.
• Take time to burp your baby. Frequent burps during and after feeding can keep air from building up in your baby's stomach. To burp, sit your baby upright, supporting their head with your hand. Avoid burping your baby over your shoulder, which puts pressure on their abdomen.
• Put your baby to sleep on their back. Most babies should be placed on their backs (supine) to sleep, even if they have reflux.
Remember, infant reflux is usually little cause for concern. Just keep plenty of burp cloths handy as you ride it out.
The burping, heartburn, and spitting up associated with GORD are the result of acidic stomach contents moving backward into the oesophagus (reflux). This can happen because the muscle that connects the oesophagus with the stomach (the oesophageal sphincter) relaxes at the wrong time or doesn't close properly.
The most common symptoms of reflux in children include recurrent vomiting accompanied by a persistent cough. Children who suffer from reflex have difficulty eating, and may refuse to eat altogether. Kids often complain of a sour taste in their mouth.
Doctors advise parents to report ongoing abdominal pain in their infants, or colicky behaviour (frequent crying and fussiness) associated with feeding.
Older children
In older children, certain factors also may contribute to GORD, including obesity, overeating, eating spicy or fried foods, drinking caffeine, and specific medication. There also appears to be an inherited component to GORD, as it's more common in some families than in others.
If an infant appears healthy, has good growth, and seems to have typical GORD, the infant usually doesn't need tests or treatment. Even if a paediatrician suspects GORD, simple feeding changes can often reduce symptoms.
In some cases, a health-care provider may order tests to help determine whether the infant’s symptoms relate to GORD or another medical condition and require medication. A health-care provider may refer an infant with suspected GORD to a paediatric gastroenterologist, a doctor who specialises in children’s digestive diseases, for diagnosis and treatment.
A few tips
To minimise reflux, consider these tips:
• Keep your baby upright. Feed your baby in an upright position, and hold them in a sitting position for 30 minutes afterwards, if possible. Gravity can help stomach contents stay where they belong. Be careful not to jostle or jiggle your baby while the food is settling.
• Try smaller, more frequent feedings. Feed your baby slightly less than usual if you're bottle-feeding, or cut back a little on the amount of nursing time if you're breastfeeding.
• Take time to burp your baby. Frequent burps during and after feeding can keep air from building up in your baby's stomach. To burp, sit your baby upright, supporting their head with your hand. Avoid burping your baby over your shoulder, which puts pressure on their abdomen.
• Put your baby to sleep on their back. Most babies should be placed on their backs (supine) to sleep, even if they have reflux.
Remember, infant reflux is usually little cause for concern. Just keep plenty of burp cloths handy as you ride it out.
