Symptoms of acid reflux in children:
- Abdominal pain above the belly
- Intolerance of pressure on the stomach
- Chest pain
- Excessive salivation
- Burning sensation in the esophagus
- Frequent ear infections
- Refusing foods often
- Poor sleep quality
- Frequent waking during the night
- Eating less than what is normally eaten
- Hoarseness
- Choking
- Dry cough
- Weight gain or weight loss
- Nighttime cough
- Bad breath
- Respiratory problems like bronchitis, wheezing, and asthma
- Running nose
- Infections like sinusitis
- Sore throat
If your children are found to have a number of these symptoms, then consult a doctor in order to confirm the acid reflux problem.
Diagnosis:
The doctor will have the child undergo some tests in order to check whether the child is suffering from acid reflux or not. According to the results of the tests, if the child is affected, then necessary treatment will be carried out. The diagnosis might include:
Lab tests
These include blood tests and urine tests in order to identify the problem which causes continuous vomiting and coughing in the child.
Esophageal pH monitoring
This test will measure the amount of acid which is present in the esophagus.
Endoscopy
A device will be inserted through the mouth of the child and it will be pushed until it reaches the stomach of the child. This procedure is generally used to check the problem of inflammation and narrowing in the esophagus.
After all these tests and analyses, the doctor will confirm whether the child is affected or not, depending on the result of the test.
Treatment
Treatment should be carried out at once if the child is found to be suffering from acid reflux. If the child is left untreated, then it might lead to some other serious problems like ulceration.
The doctor might suggest changing some undesirable food habits such as eliminating the consumption of chocolates, as they are one of the triggers of acid reflux in children. Soda drinks must also be prohibited as they increase stomach acidity. Other than these, some medications will be prescribed – the most common of which are antacids, which help in neutralizing the acid present in the stomach; acid suppressors, which help in suppressing the acid; and acid blockers, which completely block the production of acid in the stomach.
The medicines should be taken only when they are prescribed by the doctor. Otherwise, it is better to stay on the safe side by planning a diet that is beneficial for countering acid reflux in children, instead of having them take medication.
