Infant Reflux

Gastro-oesophageal reflux in Infants

​

How to Treat and Prevent Infant Reflux?

reflux.jpg
reflux3.jpg

Normal Presentation

  • Some reflux – regurgitating or vomiting of feeds – is normal in babies.

  • Reflux is very common. It affects at least 4 out of 10 of babies younger than 1 year.

  • Usually no tests or treatments are needed.

  • It tends to start before the baby is 8 weeks old.

  • It can happen a lot – some babies bring up milk 6 or more times a day.

  • It normally happens less often as the baby gets older.

  • It gets better on its own in 9 out 10 babies by the time they are 1 year old.

 

When to seek medical advice

  • The vomiting becomes more forceful, as 'projectile vomiting' contact your GP or 111 out of hours immediately.

  • If your baby brings up milk that is green, yellow‑ish green or if it looks as though it has blood in it, contact your GP or 111 out of hours immediately.

  • If your baby, won't stop crying (high pitch cry after vomiting), arching their back during or after a feed, or drawing their legs up to their tummy after feeding, stops putting on weight, or if reflux is still a problem in a baby older than 1 year.

 

Causes

  • It's normal for some babies to have reflux. It usually just occurs because a baby's food pipe (oesophagus) is still developing. It normally stops by the time a baby is a year old, when the ring of muscle at the bottom of their oesophagus fully develops and stops stomach contents leaking out.

  •  In a small number of cases, reflux can be a sign of a more serious problem, such as:

  • gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) – a long-term form of reflux where stomach contents are able to rise up and irritate the oesophagus

  • a cows' milk allergy – this can also cause a rash, vomiting and diarrhoea; many babies will eventually grow out of it and can be treated by removing cows' milk from their diet.

  • a blockage – rarely, reflux may occur because the oesophagus is blocked or narrowed, or there's a blockage in the stomach and small intestine.

 

Medication

  • Babies with reflux don't usually need to take any medication, but sometimes the following medicines may be offered if your doctor feels the problem is severe:

  • Alginates – these form a protective barrier over stomach contents, stopping them traveling up and irritating the oesophagus

  • Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and H2-receptor antagonists – these reduce the level of acid in the stomach, so the stomach contents don't irritate the oesophagus as much.

​

Feeding advice

  • Your midwife or health visitor may want to check how you feed your baby and suggest some changes to help with their reflux.

  • These changes might include:

  • burping your baby regularly throughout feeding.

  • giving your baby smaller but more frequent feeds.

  • holding your baby upright for a period of time after feeding.

National Institute for Excellence in Health and Care (NICE) 1.3.2019 Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in children and young people: diagnosis and management

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng1/ifp/chapter/Medicines-to-reduce-acid-production2018 surveillance of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in children and young people: diagnosis and management (NICE guideline NG1)

DHD Reviewed 2021 National Health Service 2019. National Health Service Choices 2.3.21 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/conjunctivitis/