Acid reflux disease is also referred to as gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. Acid reflux disease occurs when the liquid acid in the stomach rises to the esophagus. Over time, reoccurring acid reflux can lead to damage of the lining of the esophagus, stomach problems and an increased risk for Barrett's esophagus and esophageal cancer. If your toddler is showing signs of acid reflux disease, he should be seen by his pediatrician or a gastroenterologist specializing in pediatric reflux disease.
Upset Stomach
Acid reflux disease is common in infants and toddlers, explains the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. If your toddler is still having difficulty keeping food down or experiences frequent stomach discomfort, he may have chronic acid reflux disease. He may complain of an upset stomach or bellyache, especially after eating certain foods. Common food triggers that cause nausea include citrus foods such as oranges and grapefruit, spicy foods or crackers, sodas, cabbage, beans, some dairy products and fried foods. He may also complain of stomach upset a few minutes or hours after bedtime -- this is due to the acid rising in the esophagus because he is not in an upright position.
Vomiting
Nausea can often lead to vomiting -- especially in toddlers. Vomiting is serious because it means that important nutrients and electrolytes are lost in the process. Eating spicy foods or foods that produce a large amount of acid in his stomach could induce vomiting. In toddlers with acid reflux disease, the lower esophageal sphincter may open spontaneously or stay open -- causing acidic food and stomach contents to quickly come up through the esophagus and out the mouth. Frequent vomiting that occurs more than twice a week should be reported to your child's pediatrician.
Sore Throat
If your toddler has a frequent rise of acid levels into his esophagus and throat, it can lead to soreness and painful swallowing. This can be mistaken for an upper respiratory illness or other medical condition. A sore throat can be one of the first symptoms of acid reflux in children, especially if the acid rises in the middle of the night, she may be left with a sore throat in the morning. Another accompanying symptom may be heartburn or a burning sensation in the chest and throat. He may also experience a lot of burping and indigestion. It can be difficult for toddlers to relay these symptoms, so careful consideration is necessary.
Weight Loss
If vomiting is recurrent with your toddler's acid reflux, it can easily lead to significant weight loss. Weight loss occurs mainly with vomiting up contents of the stomach. It can also be caused from a lack of appetite or general malaise because of the pain and discomfort caused by acid reflux. It is important to have acid reflux evaluated and treated as soon as possible to prevent nutrient loss and a drop in weight in gain.
References
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Gastroesophageal Reflux in Children and Adolescents
- Reflux.org: What to feed your infant to teen with acid reflux
- Pregnancy Baby Care: Toddler Frequent Vomiting
- "American Family Physician"; Head and Neck Manifestations of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease; Vanita Ahuja, et al.; September1999
- Kidshealth.org: Gastroesophageal Reflux
