It is common for babies to spit up after feedings, but some infants may have prolonged episodes of spitting, even after many months of eating. When this occurs, parents must consider an underlying physical condition as the cause. Many physicians work with parents to modify feeding amounts or to change feeding positions in order to control regurgitation. When these remedies still do not work, medication is often the next step.
GERD
According to NYU Langone Medical Center, a baby who still has symptoms of spitting up after 18 to 24 months may have gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. With GERD, food and stomach acid back up into the esophagus after eating, causing regurgitation. A baby with GERD may also become fussy with feedings or refuse to eat, she may have swallowing difficulties and may consistently lose weight.
Identification
Lansoprazole, also known as Prevacid, is a prescription medication that works to reduce stomach acid and relieve the symptoms of esophageal reflux. Prevacid is meant to be taken on a regular basis to control acid production and is not indicated for the immediate treatment of reflux. It is typically given before a meal to control increased acid production that occurs after eating.
Mechanism
The stomach secretes acid by the action of a protein known as a proton pump. Prevacid works as a proton pump inhibitor, in that it prevents acid secretion by blocking the action of the proton pump. The result is a decrease in the amount of stomach acid to mix with a baby's food during digestion. This reduces the overall volume of regurgitation and there is less stomach acid that comes in contact with the sensitive tissue of the esophagus.
Side Effects
Side effects of Prevacid in a baby include constipation, diarrhea and vomiting. A baby who develops a skin reaction of hives; who has swelling of the lips, face or tongue; or who develops difficulty breathing while on Prevacid should discontinue the medication and parents should seek emergency treatment.
Considerations
As a treatment for the management of esophageal reflux, Prevacid is not frequently used in infants. According to Drugs.com, a drug information resource for patients and professionals, Prevacid should not be given to children under one year of age. Despite this fact, many health care providers do still prescribe Prevacid for infant treatment. Directions for adding Prevacid granules to soft foods such as applesauce may be obtained from the manufacturer.
