subject: Curing Acid Reflux in Children and Infants [print this page] Curing Acid Reflux in Children and Infants
The spitting up and throwing up of food particles is a common thing that every mother must be accustomed to. Acid reflux is a condition wherein the lower esophageal sphincter fails to function properly. Under the normal circumstances , the lower esophageal sphincter , which acts like a valve between the esophagus and the stomach , closes tightly after allowing the food into the stomach. Thus , under no circumstances can the food re-enter the esophagus. Acid reflux is caused when the lower esophageal sphincter is not able to prevent the backflow of the acidic stomach content into the esophagus. The acidic content causes irritation in the esophagus and this is termed as acid reflux.
One of the main reasons for acid reflux in infants and children is that the digestion system is not developed and hence it leads to occurrence of acid reflux. Hence it is recommended not to overfeed infants. Normally, doctor's advice should be sought before deciding upon the feeding quantity. For infants and children suffering from acid reflux, it is recommended that the feeding quantity should be reduced corresponding with an increase in the frequency of the feeding. One can also try to change the schedule of feeding the infant. Again the doctor should be consulted before changing the schedule. Both these suggestions can be useful to control acidity.
Pressure on the abdomen also increases the incidence of acid reflux. Hence parents are advised to hold the baby in an upright position especially after feeding them. This allows the stomach to digest the food easily. Ideally, the infant should be held in an upright position for about 30 minutes. It is often observed that infants and children tend to sleep on their stomach. This puts strain on the stomach and increases the chances of acid reflux. Hence infants and children suffering from acid reflux should be laid on their backs while sleeping.
Burping plays an important role in the control of acid reflux. Hence doctors recommend burping the baby after feeding it. Burping should be done 2-3 times while feeding the infant. Elevating the head of the crib is another way to cure acid reflux in infants. Elevating the head prevents the acid from reaching the esophagus.
Medication is another option to cure acid reflux in infants and children . One can try using H2-blockers like cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), famotidine (Pepcid), and nizatidine (Axid). These drugs prevent the backflow of acid into the esophagus. One can also try using the proton-pump inhibitors, such as esomeprazole (Nexium), omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid), rabeprazole (Aciphex), and pantoprazole (Protonix). They decrease the level of acids produced in the stomach.
Hence acid reflux in infants and children can be cured by making elementary changes in their dietary patterns and sleeping positions.
Learn more aboutcauses of acid reflux on our site. You'll also find other information such asinfants with acid reflux andsymptoms of acid reflux in infants. TreatAcidReflux.org is a comprehensive resource to help individuals with acid reflux disease to identify symptoms, prevention and treatment options.
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