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Gerd in Children
By admin | July 5, 2008
GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease) also known as ‘acid reflux’, is a condition which is caused by liquid from the stomach containing acid, pepsin ( an enzyme that begins to break down proteins in the stomach) and possibly bile backing up in the esophagus. This is a common problem in adults but it can also be an issue for children.
It is common for young babies to experience reflux (i.e. vomitting or spitting up ), however, they ususally grow out of this by their first birthday. Neverthless, unfortuntely some children go on to develop GERD. There are a multitude of symptoms that could indicate GERD in children. These include: frequent vomitting, hiccuping/belching regularly, pain in the chest/ throat due to heartburn, refusing to eat due to pain, irritability, coughing, respitory problems, choking sensation, sleep disturbance and bad breath.
If your child is experiencing some of these health problems, it is important to seek medical advice. The diagnosis of GERD in children usually involves a review of the child’s medical history followed by a range of medical tests. In some cases, medication will be prescribed.
As a parent it is bound to be very difficult to see your child in pain or discomfort. If there is a possibility that your child is suffering from GERD, you are probably wondering if there is anything you can do to help him or her. There may be some steps that you can take that might help to alleviate your symptoms.
These include:
- Ensuring that your child has a healthy diet with no (or at least very little) fried and fatty food;
- Do not give your child caffinated or carbonated drinks;
- Try to reduce acidic foods, citrus-based drinks and chocolate;
- Give your child smaller, regular meals;
- Ensure that your child doesn’t come into contact with tabocco smoke;
- Make sure that your child doen’t eat 2 – 3 hours before going to bed;
- Ensure that your child doesn’t wear anything tight around his or her waste.
If your child is displaying any of the symptoms associated with GERD, he or she should attend a Physician as soon as possible.
Topics: Acid Reflux, gerd, Heartburn | No Comments »
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