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Friday, May 16, 2008

Reflux or Not?
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Q: My baby spits all the time. Is this reflux?

A: It sounds like he's joined the burgeoning ranks of baby spitters / refluxers.

Usually, it's not diet-related. Rather it's caused by a relaxed valve at the bottom of the esophagus where it meets the stomach. Since it is relaxed and doesn't close completely, as it should, milk or cereal or food (or whatever) easily comes back up from the stomach to the esophagus to back of the throat to the world and onto your favorite dress.

Some kids are called "happy spitters." That is, they frequently spit and vomit (more forceful than the dribbling of spitting), but are:

  • Growing well

  • Happy

  • Not at all uncomfortable with it

  • Have normal development

  • Suffer no coughing or choking or other breathing problems as a result


Happy spitters are by definition doing okay from a medical viewpoint, and will eventually outgrow it. It's no fun but they really don't really need any medications.

On the other hand, "refluxers" (with gastroesophageal reflux or GERD) do experience one of those problems. So they often require medications (eg., something to block acid production in the stomach [eg, Zantac] and/or something to move things along and tighten the valve [eg., Reglan]).

Your pediatric provider has a lot of experience and can help you with this.

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Posted by: Dr. Parker at 5/16/2008 02:36:00 PM

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