Symptoms:
The main symptoms of acid reflux in newborns is vomiting and spitting the food immediately after ingesting them. This acid reflux will not be a big problem if the child is in a good condition and is in good health. But if in case if the child is very uncomfortable and acts fussy, then it may be due to an acid reflux problem. It is thus better to consult a doctor if the baby:
- Is not gaining weight
- Begins to vomit at the age of 6 months or older
- Spits the food forcefully
- Seems to experience difficulty in breathing
- Spits up fluid which is green or yellow in color
- Refuses food
- Spits up blood or material which looks like coffee grounds
These signs could lead to some serious problems and it is therefore better to consult a doctor if the infant presents with any one of the above-mentioned symptoms.
Causes:
In newborns, the muscular ring which is between the esophagus and the stomach will not be fully mature, and for that reason, the food which has just been consumed by them can flow backward, resulting in acid reflux. Another main reason for this condition is that the newborns will be lying down almost all the time, and this encourages acid reflux. In addition, the food they consume are generally in liquid form, and sometimes, the air bubbles which may form inside the stomach will push the liquid food backward towards the esophagus, leading to acid reflux in newborns.
Moreover, it is not only after eating that acid reflux could occur. It can also occur whenever the newborn baby cries, coughs, or strains. Some other possible causes of acid reflux in newborns are allergic gastroenteritis, obstruction, eosinophilic esophagitis, and GERD.
Diagnosis:
If you have any doubts regarding the problem of acid reflux in your child, then immediately consult a doctor who would be the most qualified to carry out some tests in order to confirm its presence.
Ultrasound:
This test will help in detecting the obstruction at the opening of the stomach and small intestine.
Lab test:
Various tests like a blood test and a urine test will be taken in order to confirm acid reflux in newborns.
Upper endoscopy:
This is used to diagnose any problem in the esophagus, such as narrowing and inflammation. In this exam, the doctor will insert a device through the throat of the baby in order to check the amount of acid reflux in the stomach. This way, the doctor may be able to confirm the presence of acid reflux.
Treatment:
After confirming the problem of acid reflux in newborns, then recommended treatment is scheduled to get rid of the problem. For this, the child should first be given small meals frequently instead of large meals. Medications like H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors also can be given and in some rare and serious cases, surgery will be carried out which will help in preventing severe acid reflux incidences.
