How to treat gastroesophageal reflux symptoms in babies

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is more common in infants and young children, which is also closely related to the development of children. Generally, the symptoms will improve after a certain period of development, but before it improves, parents should be more careful to avoid adverse problems for their children's growth and development, especially vomiting or pneumonia, which is very detrimental to the child's health and preventive work should be done.

1. General treatment

In the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux in children, especially newborns and infants, body position and dietary feeding are very important.

(1) Posture therapy: The best position for the child is prone with a forward tilt of 30° (including sleeping time).

(2) Diet therapy: Feeding can be thick and sticky food, small amounts, multiple meals, mainly high-protein and low-fat meals, which can improve symptoms or reduce the number of vomiting. It is not advisable to drink beverages after dinner to avoid reflux. Avoid the use of irritating condiments and foods and drugs that affect the tension of the lower esophageal sphincter.

2. Medication

It has developed rapidly in the past 10 years. The main drugs are two categories: gastrointestinal motility agents and antacids. Their combined use is more effective for reflux esophagitis. A lot of experience has been accumulated in the drug treatment of gastroesophageal reflux in adults and older children, but it is only in the observation and trial research stage in the newborn infant period, so caution should be exercised when using it in the latter.

3. Surgery

Surgical treatment may be considered for patients who are refractory to medical systemic treatment, have severe complications such as esophageal stenosis, and have neurological disorders. Commonly used surgeries: ① Nissen surgery, which is a 360° full fundoplication; ② Belsey No. 4 surgery, which is a 240° partial anterior gastric wall plication. Surgical treatment has good short-term effects, but the long-term effects are still uncertain.

Generally speaking, for infants and young children, as long as parents pay more attention to their children's care, there will be no problem with the children. However, there are individual cases where children may become ill due to poor prevention, diet or sleeping posture, etc. On the one hand, we should avoid such illness, and on the other hand, we should treat it in time once it occurs.