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The fact a baby regurgitates regularly after taking a meal doesn’t necessarily mean that the child is suffering from acid reflux disease. Additionally, this also doesn’t call for surgical therapies, testing or medications according to a recently published medical report. It is important to differentiate the two major gastroesophageal reflux conditions, GERD and GER in order to prevent giving unnecessary treatments to the baby and help in ensuring children and infants get appropriate treatment.

Symptoms of uncomplicated gastrointestinal reflux

GER or uncomplicated gastrointestinal reflux in children is characterized by constant spitting up or regurgitation of contents in the stomach. At other times, this condition is also accompanied by several other symptoms like hiccups, irritability, coughing and vomiting. Over 60 percents healthy infants experience this condition, which is also the main topic of discussion between pediatricians and moms at 25 percent six months routine doctor visits, says a pediatrics report published online.

Most families experience many hurdles and worry a lot when their infants start to regurgitate regularly regardless of whether the spitting up is accompanied by other worrisome symptoms like irritability, choking and coughing. David Gremse, a pediatric gastroenterologist and professor at University of South Alabama Medical School says that most families tend to worry a lot about their children. However, Gremse says that their research has proven that children are able t get over this problem within a period of 1 year and shouldn’t be a big issue as such.

One of the surveys showed that this condition reaches its peak when the child is aged between 3 and 4 months but soon starts to decline as the child gets of age. GERD- gastroesophageal reflux disease can be more problematic even though it is only present in a lesser percentage of infants. The symptoms of this condition include vomiting, irritability and regurgitation as well as poor weight gain, child refusing to eat, sleeps disturbances and stomach ache indications.

More often than not, children with GERD condition easily benefit from medical acid suppression, which helps in controlling the symptoms as well as treating acid damages sustained on esophagus. Gremse also notes that there are other conditions like milk protein irritability and colic that could also lead to such symptoms. Nevertheless, there are no indicators that this condition is currently becoming common even though obesity worsens reflux among school age kids due to increased belly pressure.

Treatment guidelines to acid reflux disease

The research addressed concern that strong acid blockers were being prescribed to treat the conditions which were not necessary such as protein pump inhibitors. Gremse advises pediatricians to ensure that they follow laid down guidelines during diagnosis and treatment of reflux conditions. The report recommends use of lifestyle changes for treatment, which include feeding or position changes. Strong medications should only be used for patients who have been diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux conditions.