Signs and symptoms of Pediatric Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER) may include one or several of the following:
PAIN:
Irritability, constant or sudden crying, “colic”, back arching, abdominal pain, chest pain, heartburn, burning sensation in the esophagus. Rare: pain migrating to the shoulder/shoulder blade.
VOMITING:
Frequent spitting up or vomiting, frequent wet/sour burps, wet hiccups, Silent reflux: food coming part way up more than an hour after eating, spitting up-after six months of age. Rare: projectile vomiting, forceful vomiting through the nose and mouth.
EATING:
Extreme pickiness about foods or textures, food intolerances, refusing food, eating only a few bites despite hunger, Dream Feeding: eating only when sleepy or asleep, gagging, choking, poor weight gain, weight loss. Rare: excessive weight gain from constant feeding and comfort feeding.)
RESPIRATORY:
Constant runny nose, stuffy nose, frequent upper respiratory infections, sinus infections, bronchitis, croup, wheezing asthma, night cough, throat clearing, noisy or labored breathing/stidor, hoarse or deep voice. Rare: pneumonia, aspiration, apnea.
DENTAL:
Tooth enamel erosion, bad breath, excessive salivation/drooling.
SLEEP:
Poor sleep, frequent waking, frequent ear infections, resists lying down, cries when placed on back or flat surface, only sleeps when upright on shoulder, car seat, wedge.
BEHAVIOR:
Fussy, clingy, pain based aggression.
DEVELOPMENT:
Delayed motor milestones due to restricted positioning, excessive crying.
RARE:
Vocal cord nodules, laryngospasm, Barretts Esophagus, ulcers, esophagitis.
Gastroesophageal Reflux may be aggravated by:
Milk/Soy Protein Intolerance
Constipation
Food Intolerance
Hiatal Hernia
Gastroparisis-also called Delayed Gastric Emptying or Slow Motility
Prematurity
LOOKS LIKE REFLUX BUT IT IS NOT:
It is important for you and your doctor to consider other diseases that have similar symptoms when diagnosing and treating acid reflux:
