Almost all infants suffer from a degree of acid reflux, the backward flow of stomach acid and contents into the esophagus. Most babies outgrow acid reflux by their first birthday. Before then, acid reflux can cause feeding difficulties, which can in turn lead to poor weight gain. Some of the treatments of acid reflux in infants include adding rice cereal to their milk and medicines like Zantac.
Causes
Acid reflux occurs as a result of weakness of the lower esophageal sphincter. This band of muscle surrounds the part of the esophagus that enters into the stomach. When food travels from the mouth through the esophagus, the lower esophageal sphincter relaxes and allows food to enter the stomach. Then, it closes to prevent acid and the just ingested food from flowing backwards. When the lower esophageal sphincter weakens, it allows acid to flow into the esophagus, resulting in acid reflux.
Symptoms of acid reflux
Infants with acid reflux spit up their milk or formula frequently. According to the Mayo Clinic, other symptoms include irritability during feedings and avoidance of food as a result of the pain of reflux. If the reflux reaches the back of the throat, it can cause breathing difficulty, coughing or gagging. Because the symptoms of acid reflux are also dependent on the baby's position, symptoms can get worse when the infant is lying on her back
Treatment
Supportive measures for infants with reflux include feeding small but frequent amounts of milk and trying no to overfeed the baby. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, feeding the baby in an upright position may help. Thickening the formula with rice cereal is another strategy that may decrease the frequency of vomiting episodes. When you thicken the formula, it stays in the stomach and is less likely to flow into the esophagus. You can thicken breast milk or formula by adding one tablespoon of cereal for every 2 to 4 ounces of milk.
Medicines
Zantac, or ranitidine, is a medicine that is widely used to treat reflux in infants. It is an H2 blocker, which is a type of drug that inhibits the production of acid in the stomach. Although medicines like Zantac do not prevent reflux, it makes the stomach contents less acidic, causing less irritation in the esophagus and less discomfort to the infant. These medicines come in liquid form, making it easy for the infant to take by mouth.
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