My son regularly tells me that it feels like his stomach and chest are “burning,” and that his throat hurts too. A handful of times, these symptoms have been so severe that he has thrown up. It sounds very much like he has acid reflux, but he’s only 5 years old! Can young children really get heartburn? If so, what could be the cause, and what should I do?
Although we often think of heartburn and the conditions that cause it as only affecting adults, infants and young children are also susceptible to them. In both adults and children the stomach contains gastric acid, which assists in digestion by breaking down the food that is eaten. To keep this acid from entering the throat, the esophagus has a sphincter (a circular muscle) at its lower end that constricts when food or liquid is not being consumed. Certain foods, such as cow’s milk, citrus fruit, and chocolate and some conditions, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (G.E.R.D.), may cause the sphincter to relax and allow acid to flow upward, enter the esophagus, and cause heartburn.
Treatment options for acid reflux in infants or toddlers include propping up the head of the infant’s bassinet, crib, or other sleep area; breaking down the baby’s daily food intake into smaller meals at more frequent intervals; and identifying and avoiding the specific foods that worsen the child’s acid reflux symptoms.
Given the regularity of your son’s symptoms, however, they could be signs of G.E.R.D., which is more serious and characterized by prolonged acid reflux that can damage the lining of the esophagus over time. While G.E.R.D. is most commonly associated with heartburn, other symptoms of the disease include a dry cough or wheezing, throat irritation, trouble swallowing, regurgitation of food and stomach liquid, and nausea.
The process of diagnosing G.E.R.D. begins with a visit to your child’s pediatrician, who may refer you to a physician who specializes in pediatric digestive disorders. A comprehensive medical history will be taken, and additional non-invasive tests may be performed to evaluate the condition of your child’s throat, stomach, and gastrointestinal functioning. If G.E.R.D. is confirmed, and lifestyle and dietary adjustments have proved ineffective, the doctor may recommend medications to neutralize the acid reflux. In rare cases surgical procedures may be necessary to improve the function of a child’s esophagus.
Identifying possible signs of acid reflux in your child, and deciding to take action, is half the battle, so you are already off to a good start to help your son overcome his symptoms. No matter what the cause, options are available that will help your son to feel more comfortable.
