Talking to the Doctor About Your Child"s Acid Reflux
Updated December 29, 2014.
Written or reviewed by a board-certified physician. See About.com's Medical Review Board.
Many people think of gastroesophageal reflux disease as an adult disease, but children also suffer from GERD, and it appears to be a growing problem. This could be in part due to an increase in the consumption of fast food and a growing problem of obesity in children and teens.
Under normal conditions, food passes through the esophagus, and the muscle at the bottom of your esophagus closes off so food and liquids will remain in your stomach.
This muscle is the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). When the LES doesn't close properly, stomach contents and acid can back up into the esophagus.
Children, like adults, can suffer from occasional heartburn. It is when the heartburn becomes frequent, occurring two or more times a week, that parents should take their children to the doctor. It is important to determine if this frequent heartburn is caused by a more serious condition, such as GERD.
How do you know when you should talk to your child's doctor about his or her reflux? You should know what the symptoms of acid reflux are. These can include the following:
You can prepare ahead of time for your child's appointment with his or her doctor so that you will be able to get the most out of the appointment.
Write down the questions you want to ask your child's doctor. Before taking your child in for his or her appointment, write down any questions you can think of. This will help you remember what you need to ask.
Keep a record of when your child's heartburn occurs. When you first suspect your child is experiencing heartburn, you may want to keep a record of when the heartburn occurs. If your child gets heartburn during or shortly after a meal, you can record when he or she ate. In future meals, you could introduce those foods one at a time to see which is causing the problem. If he or she suffers from nighttime heartburn, that can also be noted. This record will help your child's doctor see how often the heartburn occurs. You can write this information down in any form you want to, or you can use this sample heartburn record as a guide.
Take a notebook with you. If you take a notebook with you to your child's appointment, you will be able to write down what the doctor says, and therefore be able to later read the doctor's answer's to your questions, and what the doctor told you about your child's diagnosis and treatment.
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Additional Resources:
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Sources
Marsha Kay, M.D., Vasundhara Tolia, M.D.. "COMMON GASTROINTESTINAL PROBLEMS IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS." The American College of Gastroenterology.
Brian Pace, MA, Richard M. Glass, MD. "Gastroesophageal Reflux in Children." JAMA, July 19, 2000---Vol 284, No. 3. The Journal of the American Medical Association.
Written or reviewed by a board-certified physician. See About.com's Medical Review Board.
Many people think of gastroesophageal reflux disease as an adult disease, but children also suffer from GERD, and it appears to be a growing problem. This could be in part due to an increase in the consumption of fast food and a growing problem of obesity in children and teens.
Under normal conditions, food passes through the esophagus, and the muscle at the bottom of your esophagus closes off so food and liquids will remain in your stomach.
This muscle is the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). When the LES doesn't close properly, stomach contents and acid can back up into the esophagus.
Children, like adults, can suffer from occasional heartburn. It is when the heartburn becomes frequent, occurring two or more times a week, that parents should take their children to the doctor. It is important to determine if this frequent heartburn is caused by a more serious condition, such as GERD.
How do you know when you should talk to your child's doctor about his or her reflux? You should know what the symptoms of acid reflux are. These can include the following:
- Chest pain
When stomach acid is refluxed into the esophagus, pain can occur behind the breastbone and higher into the chest and throat. - Burning sensation in the throat
If refluxed stomach acid irritates the esophagus, it can irritate the throat and cause a burning sensation. It can also lead to a sore throat. - Sensation of choking
Trouble with swallowing (dysphagia) occurs when food does not pass normally from the mouth through the esophagus to the stomach. There may be a sensation of food sticking in the throat, which can lead to a feeling of choking. Difficulty swallowing could be a sign of various conditions, including erosive esophagitis, and should always be evaluated by a physician.
- Respiratory problems (such as bronchitis, wheezing, asthma)
Several studies suggest a significant link between GERD and asthma. GERD can affect asthma when refluxed acid from the stomach is aspirated into the lungs, and can make breathing difficult and cause the child to wheeze and cough. - Hoarseness
Irritation caused by refluxed stomach acid into the throat can lead to hoarseness. - Poor sleep, frequent waking
When a child is sleeping and his head isn't elevated, stomach contents can press against the lower esophageal sphincter, causing it to open inappropriately. This can lead to coughing and a choking sensation, which in turn can make sleeping more difficult.
You can prepare ahead of time for your child's appointment with his or her doctor so that you will be able to get the most out of the appointment.
Write down the questions you want to ask your child's doctor. Before taking your child in for his or her appointment, write down any questions you can think of. This will help you remember what you need to ask.
Keep a record of when your child's heartburn occurs. When you first suspect your child is experiencing heartburn, you may want to keep a record of when the heartburn occurs. If your child gets heartburn during or shortly after a meal, you can record when he or she ate. In future meals, you could introduce those foods one at a time to see which is causing the problem. If he or she suffers from nighttime heartburn, that can also be noted. This record will help your child's doctor see how often the heartburn occurs. You can write this information down in any form you want to, or you can use this sample heartburn record as a guide.
Take a notebook with you. If you take a notebook with you to your child's appointment, you will be able to write down what the doctor says, and therefore be able to later read the doctor's answer's to your questions, and what the doctor told you about your child's diagnosis and treatment.
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Additional Resources:
- Heartburn-Free School Lunches
- Holiday Tips for Children with GERD
- Meal Planning Tips to Prevent Heartburn
- Tips for Heartburn-Free Dining Out
- Preventing Summertime Heartburn
- Heartburn-Free Picnics
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Sources
Marsha Kay, M.D., Vasundhara Tolia, M.D.. "COMMON GASTROINTESTINAL PROBLEMS IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS." The American College of Gastroenterology.
Brian Pace, MA, Richard M. Glass, MD. "Gastroesophageal Reflux in Children." JAMA, July 19, 2000---Vol 284, No. 3. The Journal of the American Medical Association.
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