Digestive Diseases: GERD in Infants or Children

It is common for infants to spit up after a meal, but frequent vomiting among infants may be caused by GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), the upward movement of stomach content, including acid, into the esophagus and sometimes into or out of the mouth. Older children also can be affected.

What Causes GERD in Infants and Children?

Most of the time, reflux in infants is due to a poorly coordinated gastrointestinal tract. Many infants with the condition are otherwise healthy; however, some infants can have problems affecting their nerves, brain or muscles. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, a child's immature digestive system is usually to blame. They add that most infants grow out of GERD by the time they are 1 year old.

In older children, the causes of GERD are often the same as those seen in adults. Anything that causes the muscular valve between the stomach and esophagus (the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES) to relax, or anything that increases the pressure below the LES, can cause GERD.

Certain factors also may contribute to GERD, including: obesity, overeating, certain foods, some beverages, and specific medications. There also appears to be an inherited component to GERD, as it is more common in some families than in others

What Are the Symptoms of GERD in Infants and Children?

The most common symptoms are:

Frequent or recurrent vomiting.
Frequent or persistent cough.
Refusing to eat or difficulty eating (choking or gagging with feeding).
Heartburn, gas, abdominal pain, or colicky behavior (frequent crying and fussiness).
Regurgitation and re-swallowing.

Many other symptoms are sometimes blamed on gastroesophageal reflux, but much of the time, we really aren't sure whether reflux actually causes them. Other problems seen in young children and infants that may be blamed on gastroesophageal reflux include: