GERD in
Children
An 11-year-old boy in Boston developed a Gastro esophageal
reflux Disease (GERD). According to his mother, Cathy, it was
the end of June in the year 2005 when his son developed a cough
which usually happens during sleep, and even during daytime. It
is only a short dry cough symptom. His pediatrician thought it
was only allergy, however, when his son was tested, result
showed that his son had no allergy. According to her, it was his
son’s asthma that relates to GERD.
Studies show that GERD is likewise normal to infants and
children like in adults, though this fact is often times being
overlooked. The symptoms come in continual sickness, coughing,
and other respiratory trouble.
Children are vulnerable to GERD because of their immature
digestive system. Truth is majority of the infants grow out of
GERD once they reach the age of one year old.
The medical specialists further stated that symptoms for
children may come in difficulty in swallowing foods, or failure
to grow. The doctors recommended that in situation like this it
is best to lessen the amount of acid in the children’s stomach
before it could lead to acid reflux, since this disease is not
very curable in children.
However, the doctor suggested some approaches to avoid acid
reflux on children; an example of these is burping the infant
quite a few times during feeding, or letting the infant stay in
an erect position for 30 minutes after nourishing.
Although, for a child ages three and up, doctors suggested to
keep them off from sodas that includes caffeine like soft
drinks, carbonated drinks, spicy foods like peppermint, acidic
foods like citrus fruits, too much chocolate, and fried and
fatty foods. Ideally, establishing a healthy eating habit diet
can really decrease the acid reflux in children.
It is also suggested that children will eat smaller meals before
sleeping, if possible, do not allow them to eat two to three
hours before sleeping, also, elevate the head of their bed for
at least 30 degrees.
Further treatments include the use of H2 blockers; this is
available in any drugs store. Prevacid, proton plump inhibitors,
can also be used in treating acid flux for children.
However, if these treatments fail to stop the symptoms, other
treatment method needs to be done. It is very atypical, but
doctors’ recommends surgery, this is so far the best treatment
for relentless symptoms which do not anymore counter to other
treatments.
The Esophageal reflux surgery for children is designated for
children who have had unsuccessful medical treatments, and
continuous surgery is essential as the child grows.
Now, if you get confused whether when is the time to consult a
pediatrician regarding acid reflux. The answer is you observe,
observe the amounts of vomiting of the child, if it already
comes out in green or yellow or appears to be like blood or
coffee grounds, there difficulty in breathing after vomiting,
and there is pain in swallowing, immediately consult a
pediatrician before the symptom gets aggravated.
So to prevent the occurrence of this disease, stay away from the
habit of leaning forward after eating, or worse, sleeping after
taking a large amount of food.
Take note, advanced acid reflux disease has a great possibility
to end serious medical complications, and it may lead to
hospitalization.
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