Learning about acid reflux in infants is important because you will want to do anything in your power when you hear that cry that comes with it. It can pierce the night, a child’s cry, and can cause an end to any dreams of magical sleep that you once had. About fifty percent of babies, within the first six months of their lives, will experience acid reflux in some form or another. This is incredibly painful for the infant, but it is generally not too terribly harmful in a long term sense. Acid reflux in infants, in terms of physical effects, is more a matter of a discomfort that causes pain more than it is an actual affliction.
Most people associate acid reflux with adults and heartburn or indigestion but the truth is that anyone of any age can develop acid reflux. It is particularly upsetting when babies develop acid reflux because it is difficult for them to describe symptoms to those who care for them, all they can do is cry and spit up and hope that someone understands that they are in pain and can do something about it.
We have all seen the movies with the baby spitting up all over someone’s shirt, right? If you have a baby and that baby is spitting up all the time, you may not think that image of the baby in the movie is so funny anymore. You may be seriously questioning what the heck is wrong with your baby. You may know what acid reflux is and wonder if your baby could possibly have acid reflux. To get the answers to your questions you may make an appointment with your baby’s pediatrician.
One major frustration for most parents is their inability to know what is going on with their very young children. What is bothering infants, who can only communicate through crying, is often a mystery. One way for parents to feel better about their ability to comfort their infants is to learn about issues that commonly afflict infants and toddlers.
Normal or Not? Symptoms of Acid Reflux in Babies
Acid reflux, which is also termed as gastroesophageal reflux, is one of the most frequent problems among infants. Babies with acid reflux often suffer from a range of conditions, from a mild degree to a severe one, such as recurrent spitting up, abdominal pain, and night waking.
Acid reflux is also known as gastro esophageal reflux disease, which occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) does not close properly and stomach content reflux back up into the esophagus. This acid reflux generally occurs to adults and infants. Infants diagnosed with acid reflux, or acid reflux babies are in bad pain and they tend to cry a lot. Acid reflux is a condition wherein the esophagus is filled with the contents of the stomach as it comes back up.
Causes and symptoms of acid reflux in infant:
Infant acid reflux occurs when acids and other materials in the stomach flow back into the esophagus. The esophagus is a muscular tube that connects the throat with the stomach. Normally, the esophagus contracts to move food from the throat into the stomach. A tough rim of muscle, called the esophageal sphincter, opens to allow food out of the esophagus, and then contracts tightly to prevent it from re-entering the esophagus. In infant acid reflux, the esophageal sphincter does not work properly, and the acid flows backwards into the esophagus, causing the infant discomfort. Acid reflux is not at all uncommon in infants–up to have of all babies may experience it occasionally.
Some medical conditions have no respect for age. Acid reflux can occur to any age level people, but especially in infant because they consume only liquid or soft foods, which leads to heartburn and acidic regurgitation occasionally. As in adult’s cases, infants suffered from acid reflux when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is relaxed. The LES is a valve between the esophagus and the stomach. It opens up to allow foods into stomach and then close to protect the esophagus and the other organs from acidic reflux. Sometimes it becomes difficult to determine the acid reflux in infant.
Acid reflux in babies occurs when stomach contents come back up to the esophagus. This takes place during or after a meal and is quite painful because of the acidity of the stomach contents and the amount of actual stomach acid that will be present in the throat. The discomfort for this condition in adults is significant, so imagining the results of acid reflux in babies is incredible painful as well. For this reason, it is important to know the symptoms of acid reflux in babies so that it can be treated and so that the child can be comforted when it does, in fact, occur.
Acid reflux babies, or infants suffering from acid reflux, are in incredible pain and often can create incredible pain in their parents from the crying as well. Acid reflux, in people of any age, results when stomach acid comes up back into the esophagus. This happens during or after a feeding period or meal and usually results in a painful or irritating feeling in the throat. It may, to some, feel like vomiting could occur as well. This is usually not related to actually being physically ill in that sense but it does have some relationships in terms of cause and effect.
