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

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

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.