Infant reflux, sometimes referred to as infant acid reflux, refers to a condition in which stomach contents come back up for a short period of time after feeding. Infant reflux usually resolves gradually as the infant grows older and is only considered abnormal if it persists after 18 months of age.

In very rare cases, reflux can be a sign of more serious problems such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, allergies, or obstruction, which definitely requires a visit to the best pediatrician.

Symptoms of reflux in babies

Regurgitation and vomiting is one of the most important symptoms of reflux in babies... As long as your baby is healthy and happy and growing well, reflux is not a concern... It is likely that your child will pass this problem.

But if your child is malnourished or appears to be upset, the stomach contents may be acidic and irritate the throat and esophagus, which is what happens with acid reflux.

When should you see a doctor?

If any of the following occur, we recommend contacting a pediatrician:

• The child's weight does not increase
• He spits so hard that the contents of his stomach come out of his mouth (projectile vomiting)
• spitting yellow liquid
• Spitting up blood or substances that look like coffee beans

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• Avoid eating
• You saw blood in his stool
• He has breathing problems
• Start vomiting at 6 months or older.

Some of these symptoms may indicate more serious conditions, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or pyloric stenosis. In GERD, the reflux contains stomach acid that damages the outer lining of the esophagus.. Pyloric stenosis is a rare disease in which the narrow valve between the stomach and the small intestine prevents the emptying of the contents of the stomach into the small intestine.

The causes of reflux in babies

Infant reflux depends on many factors that are often interrelated....In infants, the muscular ring between the esophagus and the stomach, the lower esophageal valve, is not fully moistened and allows stomach contents to flow backwards....Unfortunately, this valve opens when the baby eats, and as a result, the stomach contents close.>

More often than not, babies sleep with their backs open, which increases the chance of reflux....Also, their diet is quite liquid, which also aggravates reflux in babies....Sometimes air bubbles in the stomach may push fluids back up....In other cases, your baby may simply drink a lot of water.

Although reflux in babies often happens after eating, it can also happen any time your baby coughs, cries or struggles.

In very rare cases, infant reflux symptoms may be due to other reasons. Among the possibilities are the following:

• Allergic inflammation of the stomach and intestines: which is the intolerance of a substance in food, usually cow's protein in milk.
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): This is a more severe condition that occurs where the reflux is acidic enough to irritate and damage the lining of the esophagus.

Learn more:What are the symptoms of gastric reflux in children?..

• Eosinophilic esophagitis is a condition in which white blood cells (eosinophils) form and damage the outer lining of the esophagus.
• Obstruction: It means blockage or narrowing of the esophagus (esophageal stricture) or the path between the stomach and the small intestine (pleural stricture).

Symptoms of reflux in babies

Most cases of infant reflux go away on their own without causing any problems for your baby.... If this is not normal reflux and is reflux or another disease (much less common), the baby will show signs of poor growth or breathing problems. Some research shows that babies who have frequent attacks of spitting up are more likely to develop gastroesophageal reflux.

Learn more:What foods are good for gastric reflux?

Preparing to see a doctor

If you are concerned about your baby's reflux, the first step is likely to be to see your family doctor for children or a pediatrician... If reflux persists after your child's first year, or if your child has worrisome symptoms such as weight loss and breathing problems, you will be referred to a pediatric gastroenterologist.

Here is information to help you prepare when you see your doctor and what to expect from your doctor:

• Write down any symptoms your baby experiences...Write down when your baby spits up and spits up...Does your baby always breastfeed?...How much fluid does your baby throw up?..Does your baby seem to regurgitate everything he feeds?
• Make a list of key information.... How often do you feed your child?. How long does it take your child to eat each time? How often does your child burp while eating? Is your child breastfed? If the answer is no, what kind of formula do you use?.. How do you prepare the formula?... Have you changed the formula recently?
• Write the questions you want to ask the doctor.

Questions to ask your doctor

Here are some basic questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• What is the most likely cause of my child's symptoms?
• Does my child need special tests?
• What treatments are available?
• What can I do to help my child?
• Do I feed my child a lot?.. or do I feed my child often?
• Are there brochures or printed materials I can use?. What sites do you recommend?

What do you expect from your doctor?

Be prepared to answer the questions that the doctor will ask you:

• When did your child first experience these symptoms?
• Does your child throw up every time he eats, or does this happen occasionally?
• How is your child's mood? Does he feel full when he eats?
• Have you recently changed your baby's food from breast milk to bottle milk? Or have you changed your baby's food formula?

Learn more:The cause of gastric reflux during menstruation

• When do you feed your child?
• How much does your child eat at each meal?
• Does a certain person feed your child every time?
• If you have different nurses for your baby, do they all feed your baby the same way?
• How does your child sleep?
• Does your child's symptoms seem to be improving?

Tests and diagnostics

Diagnosis of infant reflux is usually based on symptoms and a physical exam... If your child is healthy, developing properly, and seems content, then no further tests are needed.

If your child's doctor suspects a more serious problem, diagnostic tests may include:

Ultrasonic: This test is used to detect blockage of the valve between the stomach and the small intestine (pyloric stenosis).

Laboratory tests: Multiple blood and urine tests help to diagnose or rule out possible causes of frequent vomiting and failure to gain weight.

Check Esophageal PH To determine if the tantrums, sleep disturbances, or other symptoms are related to acid reflux, it can be helpful to measure the acidity of your child's esophagus.. The doctor inserts a narrow tube into the esophagus, which controls the acidity. You must be in the hospital to be monitored.

Upper Gastrointestinal Complex: If the doctor suspects stricture of the esophagus, X-ray imaging of the upper part of the digestive tract is recommended.. Before the imaging, a chalky white liquid (barium) is given to the child.. such as stricture (stenosis) or inflammation (esophagitis)... The doctor will insert a special tube equipped with a camera lens and light through your child's mouth into the esophagus, stomach, and the beginning of the small intestine... Samples of each tissue A suspicious object is removed for examination and analysis... For infants and children, endoscopy is usually performed under general anesthesia.

Also read this article: Getting to know the symptoms of colic

Methods to treat reflux in babies and drugs

In most cases, infant reflux resolves with simple feeding changes, such as:

• Less amount of food and more often
• Stop breastfeeding because the baby burps
• Keeping the baby standing during and after breastfeeding

To check if the reflux is caused by an allergy to cow's milk protein, your child's doctor may suggest that you eliminate dairy products and meat from your diet if you are breastfeeding.

If you give your baby a special formula, sometimes it helps to change the formula.

• Medication: Acid-blocking medications are not recommended in cases where infantile reflux is not acute. Short-term use of H-2 blockers such as ranitidine or proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole (Prevacid) is worth trying in children who are not gaining weight or avoid eating healthy foods, or who have evidence of chronic reflux. These medications may increase the risk. Intestinal and respiratory infections... In addition, long-term use of proton pump inhibitors leads to problems in the absorption of iron and calcium in infants.
• Surgery: In rare cases, the muscles that release to guide food into the stomach (the lower esophageal sphincter) may need to be surgically tightened to prevent acid from backing up into the esophagus..

Lifestyle and home remedies

To minimize reflux in babies, consider these tips:

• The baby should be flat and upright....feed your baby in an upright position and if possible keep your baby in a sitting position for 30 minutes....gravity can allow the stomach contents to stay in place....be careful not to shake your baby while swallowing.
• Make more meals and smaller meals: If you use a bottle, give your baby less than usual, or if he feeds on your own milk, shorten the duration of breastfeeding.
• Take time for your baby to burp: Repeated burps during and after feeding can prevent air from increasing in your baby's stomach....To burp, sit your baby upright, place your hands behind his back....Avoid burping over your shoulder, which puts pressure on your baby's stomach.
• Put the baby to sleep on his back: Most babies should sleep on their back (open arch) even if they have reflux.

In older methods of treating reflux in children, it was recommended to harden formula or breast milk with rice....it is not generally recommended today....If you harden your baby's food, you may notice less spitting up and regurgitation, but some research shows that the number of refluxes actually stays the same..milk.

Remember, reflux in babies is usually not a serious cause for concern....just keep plenty of burping clothes to get rid of the problem....If your baby's reflux persists after 18 months or you notice any unusual symptoms, we recommend that you consult a pediatrician as soon as possible....Don't forget that you can make an appointment at