Recognizing Acid Reflux in Children

Anne had acid reflux. She knew all about the symptoms of burning in her throat and the terrible heartburn. But lately her son Joe hadn’t been gaining weight and something just didn’t seem right with his health. He’d become very picky about what he ate and seemed to always have a runny nose and bad breath. Anne started to wonder if the symptoms of acid reflux in children were different than those experienced by adults. Could Joe share the same problem as his mother?

Anne decided to start researching as much as she could about acid reflux in children. She was surprised to find that it was harder to recognize the condition in youngsters and that there were a number of “silent symptoms” she should watch for. Unfortunately, it seemed that Joe had quite a few of them. He didn’t sleep well at night, often waking to come into mommy’s bed. There was often a dry cough, especially at night. The way Joe breathed so loudly made her suspect he also suffered from sinus infections, another silent symptom. In fact, all of the things Anne had begun to notice about Joe’s health were listed as symptoms of acid reflux in a child. Even his drooling as he slept was mentioned.

Thankfully, Joe didn’t usually gag or choke on his food, at least not that Anne had noticed. And so far, he didn’t have any respiratory problems or ear infections. It was hard to know if Joe experienced any chest pain, sore throat, or burning sensation in the esophagus. He hadn’t mentioned anything, but then he was only three. If something was bothering him, he may not know where it was originating. One thing Anne could do was see if it was painful when pressure was applied to his stomach. She could also see if it bothered him to sleep flat on his back.

Even though Joe didn’t seem to have all the symptoms of acid reflux, Anne was fairly sure that could be the reason he wasn’t healthier. She decided to keep a daily food diary and write down everything Joe ate or drank and any symptoms he displayed. Then she was going to see the family doctor so Joe could have a thorough check-up and she could discuss his health concerns.

Anne was hoping that Joe wouldn’t need to take medication should he be diagnosed with acid reflux. It seemed that often the trigger foods for children were eggs, soy, nuts, gluten, wheat, and dairy. A good start would be to limit and watch reactions to those foods first. That glass of milk or bowl of cereal before bed would have to be stopped. Then she could limit the foods that caused acid reflux in adults. Chocolate was a big one, and Joe loved chocolate. Chocolate milk, chocolate ice cream – this might be a little harder than Anne imagined.

Joe did like to drink water, which was helpful. She could get him to eat cottage cheese or apples without too much trouble. The hardest diet changes would be cutting out restaurant fast food and the deserts he loved. Amazing how even a small child can be captured by snacks and sugar. Home-made banana popsicles, pure fruit leather, and 100% maple candy would have to become substitute treats.

Until Anne saw the doctor, she noted Joe’s diet and his symptoms and made food and beverage changes whenever possible. If, after testing, it was determined that Joe would need medication, at least she had done all she could. Acid reflux didn’t have to mean living a childhood filled with pain. It just meant being a little more careful.