Reflux Problems Not Limited to Adults

(Page 2)

Other possible GERD symptoms in young children include irritability, excessive crying, poor sleep patterns, coughing, sore throat or even pneumonia.

Between 50 percent and 80 percent of GERD cases are caused by the relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which separates the esophagus from the stomach and stays closed, except when someone swallows or burps. No one knows exactly why this muscle loses resiliency, allowing the acidic contents of the stomach into the upper esophagus, but coughing, having a lot of food in the stomach, pressure on the abdomen when trying to ease constipation, or obesity can all be contributing factors, Moon said.

Diagnosing GERD first involves eliminating other conditions with similar symptoms, such as testing for milk or food allergies, colic or inflammation of the esophagus, and finding out if there is a family history of GERD. Further tests include screening of the esophagus and a test that measures acidity in the esophagus.

If a young child has GERD, therapy includes introducing a dairy-free diet and/or a hypoallergenic baby formula. Overfeeding can also exacerbate the condition.

In older children, pediatricians recommend modifying the diet to avoid foods that trigger GERD symptoms. These include citrus drinks, chocolate, tomato-based foods, caffeine, spicy foods and peppermint. A child should also not lie down directly after eating.

There are also medications that can help control the disease, because they inhibit the production of acids, Moon said. In rare cases, surgery that wraps the top of the stomach around the esophagus to strengthen the lower esophageal sphincter is recommended.

Dunstan's son, now 9, has controlled his GERD through a careful diet, she said. He avoids dairy products and spicy foods, and, fortunately, doesn't like tomatoes.

In her exhaustive efforts to find out what was causing her baby so much pain, Dunstan, an accomplished musician and opera singer with a photographic memory for sound, was able to identify patterns in her son's crying that led her to link his screaming to his eating habits and to uncover his gastric problems.

That led to more research on her part and to her discovery of what she claims are the five initial sounds that young children make before beginning to cry hysterically. Distinguishing these sounds allows a parent to anticipate the baby's needs, which both helps a troubled child and dramatically improves the bonding between a parent and child, Dunstan claims.

More information

The Pediatric/Adolescent Gastroesophageal Reflux Association explains more about pediatric GERD.