Acid Reflux Symptoms Checklist: Infants and Young Children
This document has been reviewed by the medical team at www.HealthCentral.com

Pediatric Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER) can range from mild to life threatening. Signs and symptoms 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, doesn't tolerate pressure on the stomach. 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 breathing/stridor, labored breathing, 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 and frequent pain.

RARE:
Vocal cord nodules, laryngospasm, Barrett's Esophagus, ulcers, esophagitis, Sandifer Syndrome, fainting.

Gastroesophageal Reflux may be aggravated by:

Milk/Soy Protein Intolerance
Constipation
Food Allergies
Food Intolerance
Sleep Apnea
Hiatal Hernia
Gastroparisis-also called Delayed Gastric Emptying or Slow Motility
Asthma
Prematurity

Looks like Reflux but it's not:

It is important for you and your doctor to consider other diseases that have similar symptoms when diagnosing and treating acid reflux:

Pyloric Stenosis
Celiac Disease
Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome

Reflux is very common and can be easy to miss. Untreated acid reflux can have serious long-term consequences. If you believe your child may have GER, talk to your doctor or a gastroenterologist. If you know your child has GER, contact PAGER Association for the support you need. PAGER Association is a parent-led, non profit organization providing information and support to parents of children with GER.


© Copyright 2006 PAGER Association