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Patient education: Acid reflux and GERD in children and teens (The Basics)

Patient education: Acid reflux and GERD in children and teens (The Basics)

What is acid reflux? — Acid reflux is when the acid that is normally in the stomach backs up into the esophagus (figure 1). The esophagus is the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach.

A small amount of acid reflux is normal. But if it happens frequently, it can cause problems with the esophagus or lung infections (pneumonia). When acid reflux causes bothersome symptoms or damage, doctors call it "gastroesophageal reflux disease" ("GERD").

Children with certain health issues have a higher risk of GERD. These include children with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, or other problems with the brain or spinal cord. Children who are overweight also are more likely to have GERD.

What are the symptoms of acid reflux? — The symptoms depend on the child's age.

Preschool children with acid reflux might:

Vomit

Taste stomach acid in the mouth, or feel it in the throat

Not want to eat

Lose weight

Older children or teens with acid reflux might:

Taste stomach acid in the mouth, or feel it in the throat

Have an upset stomach

Feel burning in the chest (known as "heartburn")

Have trouble swallowing

Having symptoms like these once in a while is normal. If any of these symptoms happen more than once a week, this might be a sign of GERD.

Should my child see a doctor or nurse? — Yes. If you think that your child might have acid reflux, talk to their doctor or nurse before you try any treatments. They can suggest ways to help relieve symptoms. They might also do tests to figure out if your child's symptoms are caused by reflux or something else.

Take your child to see a doctor or nurse right away if they:

Have trouble swallowing, or feel as though food gets "stuck" on the way down

Lose weight

Have chest pain

Choke when they eat

Vomit blood

Is there anything I can do to help my child feel better? — Yes. There are some things that might help with acid reflux, depending on your child's age and symptoms. Your child's doctor or nurse might suggest that you:

Avoid giving your child foods that make symptoms worse – These might include chocolate, peppermint, and fatty foods.

Raise the head of your child's bed by 6 to 8 inches – You can do this by putting blocks of wood or rubber under 2 legs of the bed or a foam wedge under the mattress. If your child is a baby, do not raise the head of their crib or bed. Also, babies should always sleep on their back.

Help your child to lose weight, if they are overweight – Ask your child's doctor or nurse for advice on how to do this safely.

Keep your child away from cigarette smoke.

Have your child avoid late meals – Lying down with a full stomach can make reflux worse. Try to plan meals for at least 2 to 3 hours before your child's bedtime.

How is acid reflux treated? — Usually, acid reflux symptoms can be treated with medicines. There are 3 main types of medicines that can help: antacids, histamine blockers, and proton pump inhibitors (table 1). All of these medicines work by reducing or blocking stomach acid. But they each do that in a different way:

Antacids can relieve mild symptoms, but they work only for a short time. You can buy them without a prescription. It is not safe to give more than a few doses of antacids to children younger than 5 years. Older children should not take antacids for more than a few days at a time.

Histamine blockers are stronger and last longer than antacids. You can also buy most histamine blockers without a prescription.

Proton pump inhibitors are the most effective medicines for treating GERD. You can buy some of these medicines without a prescription. But there are other versions that your child's doctor or nurse can prescribe.

Talk to your child's doctor or nurse before you give your child any medicines for reflux.

If your child's doctor or nurse recommends a medicine, they will usually suggest that your child try the medicine for a few weeks first. Then, if symptoms do not get better, they might suggest a different medicine, or decide to do tests.

Sometimes, acid reflux medicines are less expensive if you get them with a prescription. Other times, nonprescription medicines are less expensive. If you are worried about cost, ask your pharmacist about ways to pay less for your child's medicines.

A few children need surgery to treat their GERD. This is more likely in children who have a problem with the brain or spinal cord (such as cerebral palsy), and if the GERD is causing problems like pneumonia.

More on this topic

Patient education: Spitting up and GERD in babies (The Basics)
Patient education: Acid reflux and GERD in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Esophagitis (The Basics)
Patient education: Coping with high drug prices (The Basics)

Patient education: Gastroesophageal reflux disease in children and adolescents (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Gastroesophageal reflux disease in adults (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Acid reflux (gastroesophageal reflux) in babies (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Coping with high prescription drug prices in the United States (Beyond the Basics)

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Feb 02, 2024.
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