Category: Health News
Created: 9/19/2008 2:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 9/19/2008
*poor weight gain, weight loss, failure to thrive
Is It Colic, Infant Reflux, Or GERD? Learn How To Tell The Difference
*running nose, sinus infections
Some common symptoms of uncomplicated reflux can include:
*erosion of dental enamel
The easiest way to determine whether a baby has colic or reflux is to look at the definitions and symptoms of each. Then compare them to your child's symptoms.
*chronic hoarse voice
In contrast, GER (Gastro Esophageal Reflux) is referred to as GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease) when complications arise. GERD is a pathological process and the complications can be typical (failure to thrive, feeding and oral aversions, esophagitis, etc) or atypical (wheezing, pneumonia, chronic sinusitis, etc). Patients with GERD have complications arising from their GER that necessitate medical intervention. GERD is also referred to as "Pathogenic GER". It is estimated that approximately one in three hundred children will present symptoms of GERD and is more common in children with neurological impairments.
COLIC
Colic can be defined as uncontrollable, extended crying in babies who are otherwise healthy and well-fed. All babies cry, but when they cry for more than three hours a day, three to four days a week, they are said to have colic.
*wet burp or frequent hiccups
*chronic ear infections
The main symptom is continuous crying for long periods of time. This crying can occur at any time of day but it usually gets worse at night. It's not believed that colic is caused by pain although a colicky baby may look uncomfortable or appear to be in pain. They may lift their head, draw their legs up to their abdomen, pass gas and become red-faced. Poor sleep habits is also common.
GERD
*apnea
*poor sleep habits typically with frequent waking
*neck arching (Sandifer's Syndrome)
*swallowing problems, gagging, choking
REFLUX
*frequent red, sore throat without infection present
*frequent ear infections or sinus congestion
*food/oral aversions
*irritability and pain
*bad breath
*small meals or liquid
Symptoms indicative of Reflux Disease or GERD:
*excessive drooling
It can sometimes be difficult for a parent to understand whether the baby has colic or reflux (and even GERD) since some of the symptoms (eg. poor sleep, constant crying) can be similiar. It's also extremely important to rule out reflux as a cause of this crying, as it's becoming widely acknowledged that many cases of colic are actually undiagnosed and untreated cases of reflux. In these cases, simply treating the reflux may eliminate the colicky behavior.
*constant or sudden crying or colic like symptoms
*anemia
*respiratory problemspneumonia, bronchitis, wheezing, asthma,
night-time cough, aspiration
*gagging themselves with their fingers or fist (sign of esophagitis)
The term reflux is a shorter way of referring to GER (Gastro Esophageal Reflux) and is simply defined as the backward flow of stomach contents up the esophagus. GER is a physiological process that happens to everyoneyoung and oldfrom time to time, particularly after meals and many times we are not even aware it is happening. In babies it generally occurs from immaturity of the LES (Lower Esophageal Sphincter) which is the muscle between the stomach and esophagus.
*refusing food or accepting only a few bites despite being hungry or the exact opposite requiring constant
*arching their necks and back during or after eating spitting-
up or vomiting
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