Infant GERD

Signs, Symptoms and Treatments of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

By Teri Brown

GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, is making the news far more than it used to. It seems that almost everyone knows someone who has chronic acid reflux. The supermarket shelf is packed with an overwhelming choice of digestive aids, indicating that America has a real problem. What most people don't know is this problem can actually start at birth.

Rose Roccamo's baby, Rosina, was just 3 days old when she was diagnosed with infant GERD. The Roccamos had just brought their beautiful, healthy baby girl home from the hospital when suddenly she stopped breathing. "My sister was filming Rosina's first bath," says Roccamo. "Suddenly Rosina stopped breathing, her body was arched and stiff and she was also turning purple. I yelled for someone to call 911."

Rosina spent four days in the hospital where they diagnosed her immediately with reflux. She received an upper gastrointestinal (GI) scan and was given an appointment with a specialist. The specialist ordered a pH probe, a procedure that tests the level of acid in your esophagus.

"This was the definitive diagnosis," says Roccamo.

Jan Gambino, the associate director of the Pediatric/Adolescent Gastreosophageal Reflux Association, believes it is important for parents to understand exactly what reflux is. Reflux is the abnormal backwashing of stomach contents and acid up the food tube, or esophagus. The gate at the end of the esophagus relaxes to allow food into the stomach, but with reflux it relaxes at the wrong time and allows acid to wash back up. Typical symptoms include vomiting, irritability and poor sleep and eating habits.

Want to see more?

• Tummy Trouble? A Guide to Your Newborn's Digestive System
• What's All the Fuss? Understanding and Soothing Your Baby's Cries
• Kidney Reflux in Infants: It's Treatable – and Curable!
• Talk about it!