What Are the Causes of Severe Reflux in Infants?
Severe reflux in infants can be scary for parents. A happy infant may become fussy, irritable, unable to eat and may continually spit up or cough. There are several causes of severe reflux in infants and many treatment options.
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Gastroesophageal Reflux
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Gastroesophageal Reflux or GER occurs in infants when the contents of the stomach reflux into the esophagus, causing vomiting, coughing or discomfort when feeding, according to cincinnatichildrens.org.
Lower Esophageal Sphincter
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The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is located at the bottom of the esophagus and opens and closes so that food can enter the stomach. The LES in infants is not as strong as adults, so it may easily open and allow and food or milk come up and out, according to cincinnatichildrens.org.
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Straining
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Straining because of coughing or crying can also cause severe reflux in infants. Straining puts added pressure on the stomach.
Hiatal Hernia
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A hiatal hernia can also be a cause of severe reflux in infants. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, a hiatal hernia occurs when the upper part of the stomach and the LES move above the diaphragm.
Treatment
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If your infant is diagnosed with severe reflux, your doctor may suggest a variety of treatments. Medicines such as Zantac and Prevacid can help treat severe reflux in an infant. Other treatments can include feeding your infant less food more often and/or keeping your infant upright after feedings.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of D. Sharon Pruitt
