GERD can frequently begin as early as infancy, though most infants do stop showing the symptoms as grow into childhood. Unfortunately though, a small number of children ranging from 5 to 17 years of age do indeed suffer from GERD and require relief acid reflux remedies can provide. If you suspect that your child is suffering from GERD, it is very important that you take him or her to see the doctor as relief acid reflux treatments are different for children than they are for adults – if only in the dosage.
How do you know if your child might need acid reflux treatments? Look for the following symptoms:
Chest pain
Pain in the abdomen just above the area of the belly button
Intolerant to pressure in the stomach area
Throat or esophageal burning sensations
Eating small amounts even when having mentioned hunger
Extreme food pickiness or refusing to eat food altogether
Choking or gagging
Bad breath
Weight loss or poor weight gain
A continually runny nose
Regular sore throats
A nagging dry cough
Coughing throughout the night
Struggle to sleep, frequent waking, or poor overall sleep
Respiratory issues such as wheezing, asthma, bronchitis, and others
Sinus infections
Regular ear congestion or ear infections
A hoarse or deeper voice
Excessive drooling or salivation
In order to diagnose GERD in your child and then be able to suggest acid reflux remedies, a physical examination will be required. This may also include one or several tests that will allow him or her to verify the GERD diagnosis and to determine the severity of the condition. It may also help the doctor to discover what is causing the acid reflux in your child.
Tests your child may need to undergo may include the following:
Lab tests – these can include different types of blood and urine tests that can allow the doctor to rule out different reasons that any poor weight gain, vomiting, or other symptoms.
Esophageal pH monitoring – this is a test that allows the doctor to measure the amount of acid that is present in the area of your child’s esophagus.
Upper Endoscopy – this test involves the insertion of a tube with a light and a camera lens on the end into your child’s mouth, esophagus, and stomach. It allows the doctor to see if there is any inflammation of the esophagus (also known as esophagitis) or narrowing of the esophagus (also known as stricture).
Though the most common relief acid reflux therapies include taking antacids, acid suppressers, and acid blockers, there are also natural remedies that can be safely practiced at home. These can include incorporating the following foods in your child’s diet such as:
Apples
Bananas
Cabbage
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots
Peas
Green beans
Extra lean ground beef
Skinless chicken breasts
Egg substitute
Egg whites
Fish
Fat free dairy products
Multigrain breads
Bran or oatmeal cereals
Graham crackers
Corn bread
Pretzels
Brown or white rice
Rice cakes
Baked potato chips
Still Mineral water
Jelly beans
Red licorice
And avoiding foods high in fat, sodas, deep fried or sugary foods.
However, before starting your child on a relief acid reflux diet, make sure to check with your child’s doctor. He or she will be able to provide you with more suggestions and will likely advise you that your child should not eat within 2 to 3 hours of a nap or bedtime.
Author Resource:-
Grab your free copy of Kathryn Whittaker's brand new Acid Reflux & GERD Newsletter here http://www.naturally-stop-acid-reflux.com/?source=is which is overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you combat Acid Reflux and GERD.