Thursday, June 18, 2009

Can Children Really Get Acid Reflux?

By Lyn Silverstreet

Acid reflux is commonly known as something adults suffer from, but more parents are finding that children get acid reflux as well. As awareness increases, parents and doctors are able to detect and treat the reflux before it causes any damage.

Acid reflux can even occur in infants. Colic became a general term for a lot of the unknown discomfort an infant was having. More realistically, those babies had acid reflux and not colic.

The good news is the symptoms of acid reflux are universal. Activities such as eating, lying down horizontally and bending over are common causes of acid reflux in children and adults.

Its difficult to say if anyone ever outgrows acid reflux. Diet, eating habits and body chemistry play a large part in the elimination or perpetuation of acid reflux.

Observe your children after exposure to new foods to determine if there are any allergic reactions or acid reflux symptoms. If they are experiencing discomfort from acid reflux, treat it with a mild antacid first.

One of the biggest reasons children get acid reflux is from the food and drinks they consume. Sugary drinks and foods may trigger acid reflux, as may certain candies and chocolate.

Whether your child suffers from acid reflux or not, make sure they are consuming enough water and milk on a daily basis. Spicy foods and caffeinated drinks are common causes of acid reflux in children.

Because acid reflux is so common, it can almost always be prevented and treated at home. Eating a healthy diet will naturally balance out the acidity levels. If and when acid reflux does occur, treatment with a mild antacid usually does the trick.

As your children age, their hormones can trigger acid reflux. If the child is going through puberty or a growth spurt they may experience more acid reflux symptoms than normal. By now though, both the child and parent should know what foods tend to trigger acid reflux for the child and try to minimize the consumption of those foods.

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