How To Detect Acid Reflux In Babies

The ability to detect acid reflux in babies can be quite difficult. Especially when your baby is at an age at which he or she cannot articulate the cause of the pain. Doing everything you can possibly think of to comfort your infant to no avail, while watching your baby suffer in discomfort, can also be pretty upsetting.

Acid reflux is one condition that can cause a variety of symptoms, each of which may distress the parent, but armed with a few pieces of information the condition may be more easily detectable.

Probably the most important thing you want to look for when trying to detect acid reflux in babies is frequent vomiting. Acid reflux-related vomiting is quite different from typical spitting up that is experienced daily by most infants; this kind of vomiting is excessive and will continue throughout the day and night.

If your child experiences this, or appears to not be growing out of the spitting-up stage, he or she may have acid reflux disease. Other symptoms of the condition that are less obvious than vomiting, and may include:

• A nagging, persistent cough or difficulty breathing.
• Heartburn and pain in the abdomen (very difficult to detect).
• Gas pain and general stomach discomfort.
• Difficulty eating or having the need to cough and/or to choke during a feeding.
• Completely refuse food despite exhibiting symptoms of being hungry.
• Generally irritable and seem to cry constantly.

Infants will only be able to express discomfort as a result of these symptoms by being fussy and crying, particularly during and immediately following feedings. This condition is often diagnosed as colic, but these may also be symptoms of acid reflux.

The two conditions often go hand in hand, so it is important not to dismiss the symptoms as being just colic, as there are treatment options for acid reflux in babies.

Other common symptoms of the disorder include:

• Poor sleep habits
• Bad breath
• The making of wet burp or wet hiccup sounds.

Other, less common symptoms include:

• Constant eating or drinking (which may signal a desire to soothe a sore throat.)
• The inability to tolerate certain foods.
• Negative weight gain.
• A hoarse voice (even if the child is not yet talking, a hoarse voice will be exhibited when the child cries)
• Ear infections
• Running nose
• Erosion of tooth enamel
• Excessive drooling and respiratory problems.

Changes in diet and certain medications ( see Antacids for Infant Reflux ) have been known to reduce the symptoms of acid reflux inbabies. Of course, even if you suspect your child has acid reflux disease, it is recommended that you consult a physician before taking any action toward treatment.

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