If you watch much TV you probably hear a lot about acid reflux. But here’s something the commercials aren’t telling you … acid reflux can bother your kids, too.
Somewhere between 2 percent and 7 percent of children are troubled by the condition, according to estimates, compared to up to a fifth of adults.
Temporary spells of acid reflux are common and can be brought on by a variety of factors.
Thankfully, minor spells almost always pass on schedule and their effects are self-healing. But other reasons for acid reflux in young people can be more serious, and effects of chronic acid reflux can be long lasting.
With so much at risk, what should you do when you suspect your child or infant is experiencing acid reflux or shows signs of abdominal pain, burning in the throat or mouth or sour breath?
Dr. Mark Gilger, gastroenterologist with Texas Children’s, gives some pointers.
First, he stresses that it’s important to seek a doctor’s help if your child suffers from any upset that goes beyond mild and isolated.
While adults can safely dose infrequent digestive problems with over-the-counter antacids, such do-it-yourself diagnosis and treatment for a child can mask or aggravate vital clues in doctors’ medical detective work—and that can delay a cure and risk permanent damage.
“Stomach acids are very powerful, and they belong in the stomach. Continued regurgitation into an otherwise healthy esophagus worsens the irritation, even puts sufferers at risk for cancer in extreme cases,” the doctor said.
Next, Gilger suggests that young people with acid reflux be considered in two groups—infants and older children through the teen years.
In either group, problems usually stem from:
- Mechanics of the digestive system—Usually a faulty valve at the base of the esophagus (in doctor’s terms it’s transient relaxation of the lower esophageal muscle) or, in infants, a digestive tract that is not quite mature
- Lifestyle—Dietary and sleep habits at any age; in older children, sometimes obesity or smoking.
A handful of other factors, including some medicines, occasionally can be involved, too.
- Popular culture depicts acid reflux—or “heartburn,” as it inaccurately gets labeled—as a frequent problem of middle age and beyond, so it is surprising to learn sufferers can be children, even babies.
Truth is that the digestive tracts of many newborns, maybe even most, are not quite ready to function smoothly. In infants, some reflux is normal—it’s called physiologic reflux. In most cases, this resolves with time as babies’ digestive tracts mature.
All babies spit up. But if the doctor says yours needs extra "TLC" in this area, be assured: The digestive tract matures on its own in about six months to a year.
But what if problems don’t clear up? What if your older child still suffers? Or if acid reflux symptoms start later?
A doctor’s intervention is critical in those cases, too.
The problem could be from temporary issues, such as sensitivity to certain foods, or it might be from structural issues, such as a stricture (a narrowing, in other words) in the digestive tube. Other causes can be murkier, including lingering irritation from past bouts with acid reflux.
Initial treatment will involve lifestyle changes, such as avoiding smoking and troublesome food, such as:
- Caffeine (coffee and tea, also chocolate)—“It’s like pouring gas onto a fire,” Gilger said, because caffeine prompts the stomach to make more acid.
- Fatty and greasy foods— “These delay digestion, and that keeps acids around longer,” the doctor explained.
Loosing weight and changing sleep positions might make things better, too. Elevating the head of the bed helps gravity keep stomach acids down. Wedge-shaped pillows can be good sleeping aids, Gilger suggested, but you can get the same effect by homemade means, such as elevating the head of the bed with one or two bricks.
Your doctor may also lead your child through trials of over-the-counter or prescription medicines.
But, Gilger cautioned, be wary of magic cures. Beyond the dietary tips listed above, there is no evidence that any particular food or herbal treatment solves the problem.
With a condition as widespread as acid reflux, treatments are huge potential moneymakers, which can inspire false marketing promises. So it’s buyer beware on the Internet and elsewhere.
The good news is that most cases of acid reflux can be corrected, or at least controlled while the digestive tract soothes itself. Even if a significant cause is found behind your child’s acid reflux condition, symptoms can almost always be eased and dangerous effects minimized.
Whatever the suspected culprit, it’s always critical to call your doctor if your child or teen complains of acid reflux, or your youngster or baby shows signs of digestive upsets that recur or don’t go away on their own.
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