GER is when the contents of the stomach enters the oesophagus (food pipe).
Who gets GER
GER is very common and occurs in up to two thirds of otherwise healthy babies. GER also occurs in association with other conditions such as neurological problems, lung diseases, obesity and prematurity. When the
What are the symptoms of GER
The symptoms of GER depends on the age of the child. Babies with GER most commonly present with vomiting or spitting up, irritability, crying, arching, wheeze and poor weight gain. Symptoms in older children may include abdominal pain, vomiting, chronic cough and asthma. Adolescents may complain of heart burn and nausea.
How is GER diagnosed
In most cases the diagnosis can be made by taking a history and doing a physical examination. If your doctor is still unsure, there are specialised x-rays that can help to make the diagnosis. There is no single test that can reliably make the diagnosis. Often your doctor will try a trial of anti-reflux therapy to see if there is an improvement in symptoms.
What is the treatment of GER
Conservative measures that are helpful in treating GER in babies include keeping babies upright after feeding and reducing the feed volumes while increasing the frequency of feeds. In some cases where this is unhelpful and in older children, medication may be tried. These decrease the acid in the stomach and thus causes less irritation of the oesophagus.
