WHEN TO SEEK HELP

Infants with acid reflux who also have the following signs or symptoms should be evaluated by a healthcare provider:

  Bloody stools, severe diarrhea, recurrent vomiting, or vomiting blood
  Recurrent pneumonia
  Delayed weight gain
  The infant has cried for more than two hours
  Refusing to eat or drink anything for a prolonged period
  The infant is under three months of age and has forceful vomiting after each feed, but still appears hungry
  Behavior changes, including lethargy or decreased responsiveness

CAUSES OF GERD
No one knows why some people who have heartburn develop gastroesophageal reflux disease. Several factors may be involved, and research is under way on many levels.

Risk factors - what makes some people get gastroesophageal reflux disease but not others - are being explored, as is gastroesophageal reflux disease ‘s role in other conditions such as asthma and bronchitis.

The role of hiatal hernia in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) continues to be debated and explored. It is a complex topic because some people have a hiatal hernia without having reflux, while others have reflux without having a hernia.

Much research is needed into the role of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. Our ability to eliminate H. pylori has been responsible for reduced rates of peptic ulcer disease and some gastric cancers. At the same time, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Barrett’s esophagus, and cancers of the esophagus have increased. Researchers wonder whether having H. pylori helps prevent gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and other diseases. Future treatment will be greatly affected by the results of this research.

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Resource for this article: The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC) 2 Information Way Bethesda, MD 20892 - 3570, Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) 2, 2005.

 

References
  Vandenplas Y, Rudolph CD, Di Lorenzo C, et al. Pediatric gastroesophageal reflux clinical practice guidelines: joint recommendations of the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) and the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (ESPGHAN). J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2009; 49:498.
  Kaltenbach T, Crockett S, Gerson LB. Are lifestyle measures effective in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease? An evidence-based approach. Arch Intern Med 2006; 166:965.
  Gibbons TE, Gold BD. The use of proton pump inhibitors in children: a comprehensive review. Paediatr Drugs 2003; 5:25.
  Diaz DM, Gibbons TE, Heiss K, et al. Antireflux surgery outcomes in pediatric gastroesophageal reflux disease. Am J Gastroenterol 2005; 100:1844.