Why we probably shouldn’t
Give Antacids to Infants
Gastroesophageal
reflux disease (GERD) is very common among infants, but most outgrow it by the
time they reach their first birthday, and it is rare for GERD to continue past
the age of two. This condition occurs when acidic stomach contents move
backward (reflux) into the lower esophagus, often because the muscle that
connects the esophagus and stomach relaxes inappropriately or is weak. Symptoms
of GERD in babies include routinely spitting up food or vomiting after eating,
irritability or sudden crying after eating, a “wet burp” or “wet hiccup” sound,
and poor weight gain or weight loss. Like adults with GERD, babies are probably
experiencing the same discomfort of heartburn. To overcome this we give
antacids to the infant which neutralizes stomach acidity.
Researchers
say many antacids are ineffective in helping stomach problems while some may
increase a baby’s risk for bone fractures. An infant’s pain can be
heartbreaking to watch for some new parents. We instinctively want to make them
better as quickly as possible. But sometimes the easiest solution comes with unexpected
consequences. Infant reflux, which is also called gastroesophageal reflux
(GER), is when stomach acid flows back into the tube connecting a baby’s mouth
and stomach. It’s one reason why babies spit up. This condition is rarely
serious. It happens less frequently as baby gets older.
Are antacids harmful to infants?
Acid
suppression in infants may be appropriate in certain cases of GERD, there’s a growing body of evidence that acid-suppression medication use in infants is not
only ineffective but may be associated with many adverse effects that include
an increased risk of infections.
Common
antacids that neutralize the body’s stomach acid to reduce the symptoms of acid
reflux and heartburn.
Some
of them are:
Pepto-Bismol
Milk
of Magnesia
Alka-Seltzer
Tums
But
there are two types of powerful antacids that have broader effects on the
stomach as compared to the normal antacids.
H2
blockers which are also called histamine H2 receptor antagonists, work by
actually decreasing the amount of acid produced by the stomach, rather than
neutralizing the acids what’s already there. They include ranitidine (Zantac)
and famotidine (Pepcid).
Proton
pump inhibitors (PPIs) are now the most commonly prescribed class of medication
to relieve stomach acid-related disorders like GED or GRED. They work by
completely blocking the cells that produce acid in the stomach. Examples of PPIs
include omeprazole (Prilosec) and lansoprazole (Prevacid).
Smaller, more frequent feedings
Antacids aren’t the only way to relieve GER or GERD symptoms.
There are many simple actions that parents can take on their own. Parents can try smaller, more frequent feeds and
holding the infant upright for at least 20 minutes after a bottle as the first
intervention. They should also be sure the babies are burping adequately.
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