At one time or another, many adults have had heartburn (an uncomfortable feeling
in the chest) after eating a big meal or spicy foods.
When these symptoms happen often or aren't tied to certain ingredients, they
might be due to gastroesophageal reflux (GER), also called reflux.
But GER isn't just a problem for adults — kids can have it, too, even
babies. In infants, it can cause vomiting and fussiness after feeding. And in older
kids and teens, GER can lead to heartburn, and stomach and chest discomfort.
Most kids outgrow GER over time but some will need medical treatment. Reflux
that causes problems like poor growth, vomiting, or damage to the esophagus is called
GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). GERD is more serious than
GER and is usually treated with medicine.
About GER
The burping, heartburn, and spitting up associated with GER are the result of acidic
stomach contents moving backward into the esophagus. This can happen because the muscle
that connects the esophagus to the stomach (the esophageal sphincter) relaxes at the
wrong time or doesn't properly close.
Many people have reflux regularly and it's not usually a cause for concern. But
with GER, reflux happens more often and causes noticeable discomfort. After nearly
all meals, GER causes heartburn (also known as acid indigestion), which feels like
a burning sensation in the chest, neck, and throat.
In babies with GER, breast milk or formula regularly refluxes into the esophagus,
and sometimes out of the mouth. Sometimes babies regurgitate forcefully or have "wet
burps." Most babies outgrow GER between the time they are 1 or 2 years old.
But in some cases, GER symptoms last. Kids with developmental or neurological conditions,
such as cerebral palsy,
are more at risk for GER and can have more severe, lasting symptoms.
Symptoms of GER
Heartburn is the most common symptom of GER in kids and teens. It can last up to
2 hours and tends to be worse after meals. In babies and young children, GER can lead
to problems during and after feeding, including:
- frequent regurgitation or vomiting, especially after meals
- choking or wheezing (if the contents of the reflux get into the windpipe and lungs)
- wet burps or wet hiccups
- spitting up that continues beyond a child's first birthday (when it stops
for most babies)
- irritability or inconsolable crying after eating
- refusing to eat or eating only small amounts
- failure to gain weight
Some of these symptoms may become worse if a baby lies down or is placed in a car
seat after a meal.