What are the treatments for children's gerd?

Pediatric GastroEsophageal Reflux Disease (GERDs) affects approximately 10 percent of the infant population according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology. Out of this population 3 to 5 percent of the children outgrow the condition by the time they are 18 months old. Treatments for mild forms of the condition include sleep positioning, diet modifications and medicine while severe forms may require surgery.

Positioning

Keep the child upright after feeding for at least half an hour.

Elevate the child's head so that it is higher than the abdomen to keep regurgitation to a minimum during sleep periods. The Children's Digestive Health & Nutrition Foundation recommends an angle of 30 degrees. This can be accomplished by placing a special wedge shaped piece under the mattress.

Diet-Infants

Breast milk contains much of the same food as what the mom recently ate. Avoid spicy foods, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol and citrus if you are breast feeding.

Try changing formulas for two weeks if you are formula feeding. Some babies need soy-based formulas while others do better with special formulas which have the proteins broken down into simple components which helps digestion.

You can thicken bottles (whether they contain formula or breast milk) with 1 tbs. of oatmeal or rice infant cereal per ounce of liquid.

Diet-Toddlers and Older Children

Encourage your child to eat smaller meals more frequently. Avoid serving dinner or snacks two to three hours before bed. Serve acid-absorbing foods such as bread and crackers for meals that are close to nap time. Fiber-rich foods such as broccoli, sweet potatoes and bananas can accompany the meals with no ill effect.

Avoid offering spicy, citrus, or high fat foods for any meal. These can exacerbate reflux issues. Chocolate and caffeine should be similarly avoided.

Exercise

Exercise can help strengthen abdominal muscles and trim any excess weight. This can help control the reflux and also distract the child.

Medicine

Medication is available for the child who's GERDs is not controlled by diet and lifestyle changes. There are several types of medications. These include antacids, motility medicines, acid suppressors, acid blockers and barriers.

Surgery

In rare cases, surgery may be necessary to control the disease. The most common according to the Pediatric / Adolescent Gastroesophageal Reflux Association, is called fundoplication. The top of the stomach is wrapped around the lower esophagus to engage the stomach muscle's help in preventing regurgitation.

Source:

Pediatric / Adolescent Gastroesophageal Reflux Association

Children's Digestive Health & Nutrition Foundation

American Academy of Otolaryngology