Explain manifestations, clinical diagnosis, and treatment interventions of gastroesophageal reflux among infants.

What will be an ideal response?


Gastrointestinal reflux (GER) occurs in approximately 2–7% of young infants but generally resolves before 1 year of age in children without other medical problems. The signs and symptoms associated with GER include regurgitation, vomiting, coughing, irritability, and difficulty feeding. The specific etiology for GER may be related to overfeeding, poor positioning, food allergy, eosinophilic esophagitis, decreased LES pressure, delayed gastric emptying, or excessive acid production. Nutrition diagnoses associated with GER include malnutrition, inadequate protein-energy intake, underweight, altered GI function, and swallowing difficulty. Infants diagnosed with a specific food allergy will be treated by excluding the antigen, such as cow's-milk protein, from the diet. H2-receptor agonists and proton pump inhibitors are also prescribed for infants with GER. Nutrition interventions include caregiver education to address positioning of the baby for feeding; modifying formula choice; adding rice cereal to thicken the formula; providing more frequent, lower-volume feedings; and elevating the head of the crib or bassinet.

Nutritional Science

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a. True b. False Indicate whether the statement is true or false

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a. at temperatures of 68 degrees F to 81 degrees F, while fermentation is optimum at 81 degrees F to 100 degrees F. b. at temperatures above 140 degrees F. c. in a salty environment. d. none of the above answers is correct

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a. Yes, by increasing protein-containing foods b. Yes, by increasing intake of plant fats c. No, glucosamine is only produced in the body and dietary intake has no effect

Nutritional Science