Silent Reflux In Babies - An Uncomfortable Experience Difficult To Detect

It can be difficult to obtain a diagnosis of silent reflux in babies as there are no obvious physical symptoms. However, it is important you seek a medical diagnosis as soon as possible. You can help by learning a much as possible about the symptoms and by presenting the symptoms you have seen to the doctor

That is how I found out about silent reflux in babies. Many infants - an estimated 20% - suffer from GERD. This causes the baby to spit up frequently, especially after drinking a bottle. Generally the food does not come right back in to the mouth with silent reflux. Instead, it comes about halfway up the esophagus and eventually goes back down. This is when my son was experiencing his crying fits. Feeding calmed James as it soothed his throat, however it was only a temporary solution and actually made his reflux worse.

After reading about silent reflux in babies, I began to watch his actions more closely. I had learned that symptoms of the silent form of acid reflux include irritability, frequent hiccups, excessive drooling, sleeping difficulties, gagging, and arching the back while eating. As I observed my son throughout the day, I noticed he was experiencing some of these symptoms. That is when I became certain that his issues were more than just colic or normal baby troubles. I created a journal of my baby's symptoms and I then made an appointment with the pediatrician for the following day.

As I told the pediatrician about his symptoms, he began to agree about my prognosis. We discussed my baby's symptoms and possible methods of relief. We filled the prescriptions that the doctor gave us, and James was feeling better in just a few days.

The crying has subsided, and he has become a happier infant, but the medicine is only part of the management. If you even suspect your child of having silent reflux or any other problems, it is important to become informed about the possible conditions he/she may be experiencing. It is difficult for doctors to diagnose a child with silent reflux after only a few minutes of observation. It is important for the parent to be able to describe the symptoms to the doctor as they will only see the baby for a matter of minutes.