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Reflux F.A.Q's
My child spits up often. Could he/she have reflux?
-Yes, he/she could have reflux. Is your child experiencing any other symptoms? Please see symptoms of reflux on the mainpage to see if your child is experiencing any other reflux syptoms. Or, visit our reflux forums and speak with us yourself!
My child does NOT spit up or vomit? Could he/she still have reflux?
-Yes, most definitely. This is what is called "Silent Reflux." To learn more, please see our article on infant reflux.It is more difficult to diagnose a baby that does not spit up, but it can be more severe.
My child fusses and/or arches during feedings. Is this reflux?
-Discomfort during and after feedings is a significant symptom of reflux. If feeding is painful, then reflux could be causing the problem. This symptom should be discussed with a health professional.
My child has a runny nose and cough. Could this be related to reflux?
-Yes, refluxing causes the material to spill over and can cause damage and irritation to these areas. Chronic cough and runny nose are common symptoms of reflux.
My baby is so unsettled at night time. Is this related to reflux?
-Reflux tends to be more painful at night due to lying flat, which makes digestion more difficult. Elevating your child's head while he/she sleeps may be very comforting. Also, try limiting the amount of food given just before bedtime.
Is it okay to allow my baby to sleep in his/her carseat, bouncy seat, or swing?
-Yes, a lot of babies with reflux actually sleep better like this, because it keeps them in an upright postion allowing for better digestion and less reflux. However, consult your child's doctor before making any sleep decisions that don't involve the child sleeping on his/her back on firm mattress free of loose objects, blankets, pillows, etc..
When should my baby/child see a gastroenterologist (GI)?
-Your child's pediatrician might refer your child to a gastroenterologist (GI) after exhausting all of his/her ideas, or if something more severe is suspected. However, if you feel your child's reflux is not being controlled by your pediatrician, ask for the referral yourself. GI's tend to be more liberal with medications and treatments, and they also have access to different tests and procedures that could provide insight into your child's reflux problems.
Is there anything I can do to help my baby apart from using medications?
-Elevating the child's crib and thickening his/her formula are two of many ideas that can help your baby's reflux. Please see our non-medical treatments article.
Are there any over-the-counter medication that might help my child's reflux?
-With permission and instruction from your baby's pediatrician OTC medications such as Maalox, Mylanta, Mylicon (gas drops), and gripe water (homeopathic) may be given to help allieviate your child's reflux symptoms.
What does it mean when my baby vomits hours after a feed?
-As long as this doesn't happen often, it may just be a symptom of reflux. However, if your child continuously vomits hours after feeds, then you may want to consider discussing delayed gastric emptying (DGE) with your child's doctor. To learn more about DGE, see our article on delayed gastric emptying.
Can reflux be diagnosed without any medical testing?
-Many cases of reflux are diagnosed by symptoms alone. If another health problem is suspected or if the reflux is severe, then testing might be necessary.
What sorts of tests do they do to diagnose reflux?
-The golden stardard test for reflux is the pH probe. During this test, a probe is inserted into the esophagus for 24 hours to monitor the number of refluxes and the acidity. No anesthesia is used for this test.
-Endoscopies (Scope) is when anesthesia is given to the child and a camera is insterted into the esophagus and other parts of the digestive tract to look for evidence of reflux (burns, inflammation, irritation). Normal results on an endoscopy do not rule out reflux.
-An upper GI study tends to be one of the first tests done after a child has been diagnosed with reflux; however, it is not a diagnostic tool. The upper GI study rules out anatomical abnormalities so that the doctor may proceed with reflux treatment or refer to another specialist if something else is detected. During the upper GI study, the child drinks barium (radioactive liquid), and the doctor watches it move through the upper gastrointestinal tract. The child may visibly reflux during the study, but the study is too brief to be used for a diagnosis.
What is pyloric stenosis? Is it different from reflux?
-Pyloric stenosis happens when a baby's pylorus swells and thickens over time, and it usually becomes apparent three weeks after birth. This will cause the baby to vomit all feedings, and it may get worse with time and cause projectile vomiting. Projectile vomiting is a good indicator that it is indeed pyloric stenosis and not reflux. If you suspect pyloric stenosis, talk with your child's doctor right away.
My doctor has mentioned surgery. Is this really necessary?
-Most of the time surgery is not necessary. The fundoplication surgery should only be considered as a last resort. Some reasons to consider the fundoplication would be failure to outgrow severe hard to treat reflux, FTT (failure to thrive), or other life threatening complications from reflux. For more information about the fundoplication surgery, please check out our articles on the topic.
Written by: Compiled by MWP Members
Read more about Reflux Information:
Causes of Acid Reflux,
What is Silent Reflux?,
Symptoms of Infant Reflux,
Diagnosing and Testing Infant Reflux,
Medications Commonly Used For Infant Reflux and Pediatric GERD,
Infant Laryngopharyngeal Reflux,
Sandifer's Syndrome,
Does My Baby / Child have Infant Reflux? Pediatric Reflux? GERD?,
Treatments--Infant Reflux and Pediatric GERD
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