Long-Term Concerns of Mild Acid Reflux

Featuring Dr. David Israel, BSc, MD, FRCPC, Gastroenterologist

Duration: 2 minutes
Reflux, specifically the more common form not associated with severe underlying conditions, can still lead to various problems and discomfort. It occurs when stomach acid flows back into the food pipe or esophagus, causing irritation known as esophagitis.

In children with esophagitis, symptoms may include irritability, aversion to eating due to pain, and potential small blood loss leading to anemia. Regular follow-up with a physician is crucial to monitor and address these concerns over time.

Excessive spitting up in infants can result in calorie loss and hinder proper growth. Monitoring the child's weight regularly is important to ensure appropriate weight gain. If a child is not thriving, it becomes necessary to investigate and explore other potential causes of the issue, with the assistance of a dietitian and family physician.

In rare cases, if refluxed contents reach the mouth, they can be inhaled into the lungs, leading to aspiration pneumonia. This is a serious condition that requires immediate attention and thorough investigation to prevent further occurrences.

If you have any doubts about your child's well-being, growth, or overall health, it is recommended to consult with your physician for a comprehensive evaluation and appropriate guidance.
While reflux can be caused by some serious illnesses, what we’re talking about now is the more common reflux that is not associated with a severe underlying condition.

Such reflux can still cause problems. It can cause by recurrent of acid into the food pipe or the esophagus. It can cause irritation in the esophagus that is called that is called esophagitis.

Some children with esophagitis would be irritable. They may like eating because it causes pain. It can cause irritation and some small blood loss into the system and appearance of anemia. Those are the kinds of concerns that the physician who follows your child may tell you and discover over time.

In addition, if a child is spitting up a lot, they may lose too many calories and not be able to sustain proper growth. Again, measuring the child’s weight every few weeks to ensure the child is gaining is part of the follow up.

If the child is not thriving, one needs to address and look for other potential causes of the problem and again the dietitian and the family physician can be very helpful. Lastly, in a very uncommon situation, if things are coming up into the mouth they can be swallowed into the lungs. This is called aspiration where food content gets into the lung and causes pneumonia.

This is a serious condition and of course we cannot allow this to happen again and again and such instances would require vigorous investigation and a more serious approach. If you’re still not sure things are going well. If you’re not certain that your child is healthy and thriving, you should ask your physician to have a good look and help you out.

Presenter: Dr. David Israel, Pediatrician, Vancouver, BC

Local Practitioners: Pediatrician