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Gastroesophageal reflux in infants - Treatment

Alternative Names

Reflux - infants

Treatment:

If your baby has reflux problems, hold him or her upright for 1 to 2 hours after feeding.

When the infant begins to eat solid food, thickened foods are preferable to thin foods.

Sometimes medicines are used to help reduce symptoms, such as antacids or a prescription drug called metoclopramide (Reglan).

Expectations (prognosis):

The majority of infants outgrow this condition. In unusual cases, reflux may persist into childhood and can cause varying degrees of esophageal damage.

Complications:

  • Aspiration pneumonia caused by stomach contents passing into the lungs
  • Irritation and swelling of the esophagus
  • Scarring and narrowing of the esophagus

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if your baby is vomiting frequently, especially if the vomiting is forceful or if other symptoms of reflux occur.

  • Reviewed last on: 9/28/2007
  • Deirdre O’Reilly, MD, MPH, Neonatologist, Division of Newborn Medicine, Children’s Hospital Boston and Instructor in Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Also reviewed by Jenifer K. Lehrer, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Frankford-Torresdale Hospital, Jefferson Health System, Philadelphia, PA. Reviews provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. (10/13/2006)