All children have a tendency to get an upset stomach from time to time. However, when it becomes a chronic problem and your child appears to be in pain, you may want to consider the possibility that your child is suffering from what is called acid reflux disease. This is a very painful condition in which stomach acid rises up into the esophagus and throat. The only thing worse than suffering from acid reflux yourself, is watching your child go through it.
This condition can cause major frustration as there can be a number of other ailments which appear to be acid reflux. Sometimes food allergies or sensitivities can cause children to have symptoms which mimic acid reflux. For example, something your child eats regularly may be causing acid indigestion. If that food were to be eliminated then the symptoms would just stop. Of course if you do not know what the food is, this in itself will pose a problem.
The only way to know for sure if your child is suffering from acid reflux is to have the child’s condition diagnosed by a physician. However, there are some acid reflux symptoms in kids you might watch for. If your child seems to experience a lot of discomfort after eating and he/she complains of a burning sensation, this could be a sign of acid reflux. Keep in mind that a few episodes of normal heartburn do not point to acid reflux. This will be something that happens more often than not in a child who is suffering from reflux.
You may also notice your child does not seem to thrive in terms of gaining weight appropriately. This can be related to many medical conditions but when considering acid reflux in children this is indeed one of the symptoms. If this is coupled with chronic vomiting then there is even more reason to be concerned.
If you have notice that your child seems to have a persistent cough that occurs more frequently upon waking, this could also be a result of the acid rising into the throat and esophagus. Acid reflux in children will cause irritation that could easily lead to a chronic cough. Burping to excess is also a sign of acid reflux and if you notice this address it with you physician. This is especially true if regurgitation accompanies the burping.
Wheezing, obvious discomfort while eating and frequent gagging are also telltale signs that you child may be suffering from acid reflux in children. No matter whom you are, acid reflux is a painful and uncomfortable condition, and that is putting it mildly. For a child this debilitating condition can really have an effect on the quality of his/her life. The good news is that there are many known acid reflux for kids treatments. Talk to your doctor to see what the best option for treatment will be if you have a child who is diagnosed with acid reflux disease.
There is never any reason in today’s world that a child should suffer with acid reflux. We have too many resources at our fingertips and a variety of ways in which this condition can be treated and the symptoms managed. Do not wait to take your child to a doctor if you suspect acid reflux disease as prolonging treatment can lead to other more serious complications such as GERD. If treatment is not started early there is even a chance that stomach ulcers and other underlying conditions can emerge as a result of the untreated regurgitation of the stomach acid.