Reflux in babies (GERD): how to relieve it?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is defined by the lifting of part of the gastric contents into the esophagus, with or without external regurgitation. “GERD is in the majority of physiological cases in the baby” would like to remind Dr. Sylvie Osika, pediatrician. Regurgitation concerns approximately 50% of infants under 3 months, 60 to 70% of infants at 4 months and only 5% of them at the age of one year. THE symptoms represent an important cause of reasons for consultations with the doctor. How do I know if my baby has pathological GERD? When to worry and consult? How relieve the baby who has reflux?

Definition: What is GERD in babies?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is defined by the rise of part of the food bolus, that is to say the gastric contents in the esophagus, with or without external regurgitation. “In infants, GERD is a physiological phenomenon that can occur several times a day. THE GERD is considered pathological in the child when reflux of gastric contents is accompanied by symptoms such as weight loss or pain” indicates Dr. Dieu Osika, pediatrician. It is also characterized by “unexplained crying, irritability, food refusal and sleep disturbances“says the HAS.

Reflux should be considered abnormal if it occurs away from meals, during the night, frequently or profusely. “Check the baby’s weight chart is the first indicator of GERD“says the expert. If it stagnates or decreases, we speak of pathological GERD.

“We space out meals and reduce the quantity”

When to worry about reflux in babies?

“A medical opinion should be sought from the moment the baby seems sore, eats very poorly, meals are uncomfortable, or refuses to feed“ supports Dr Dieu Osika. “If it is not accompanied by an alteration in the baby’s state of health, reflux should not lead to consultation or worry, it is completely normal.“recalls the pediatrician.

What causes reflux in babies?

” Reflux in babies is usually related to a digestive immaturity which mainly concerns premature babies. THE common cold can also give regurgitation” underlines our interlocutor. “Children at risk of pathological GERD are those with neurological impairment, esophageal abnormalities or those with chronic lung conditions like cystic fibrosis“ recalls the HAS.

What are the complications of GERD in babies?

“esophagitis is a complication of GERD but remains rare” wants to reassure the pediatrician. Most often, GERD causes poor or absent weight gain. “Other digestive complications are gastrointestinal bleeding, peptic stenosis (narrowing of the diameter of the esophagus)” informs the HAS.

What is the difference between vomiting and regurgitation?

The regurgitations are carried out without effort, they are passive and in small quantity whereas vomiting requires contraction of the abdominal muscles and manifests as a jet. If in doubt, do not hesitate to consult your doctor.

Treatment is gradual depending on the baby’s state of health and the severity of GERD. “To start, we space out the meals, we reduce the quantity and remember that reflux is in most cases completely normal. Changing the baby’s position can be very effective. While the baby is sleeping, we put it while lying flat on your back without a blanket and without using cushions or baby wedges because they risk causing the baby to slide to the bottom of the seat and put him in a bad position. Position the baby in semi oblique at 30 degrees only if it is attached in a protruding mattress For example“details Dr Dieu Osika.”Then, we favor thicker milks, so-called thickened milks to be found in supermarkets or anti-reflux milks (AR milks) available in pharmacies” recommends the pediatrician. Medical treatment is sometimes prescribed to reduce the acidity linked to reflux and relieve the baby’s pain. These are gastric dressings such as the Gaviscon. “Some drugs for gastritis and ulcers are often wrongly prescribed, they should be reserved for cases ofesophagitis” warns our expert.

Thanks to Dr. Sylvie Dieu Osika, pediatrician and author of the book “The ABCs of baby’s first year” (Hatier).