Besides using medication, you may be able to reduce symptoms other ways.

• Have your child eat more frequent smaller meals.
• Have your child avoid eating 2 to 3 hours before bed.
• Raise the head of your child’s bed 6 to 8 inches by putting blocks of wood under the bedposts. Just using extra pillows will not help.
• Have your child avoid carbonated drinks, chocolate, caffeine, and foods that are high in fat or contain a lot of acid (citrus fruits) or spices.

If the child continues to have symptoms despite initial treatment, tests may be ordered to help find better treatments. Surgery for GER in children is rare. However, surgery may be the best option for children who have severe symptoms that do not respond to medication.

If surgery is needed, a fundoplication will be performed. During a fundoplication the upper part of the stomach is wrapped around the LES. This procedure adds pressure to the lower end of the esophagus and reduces acid reflux.

Your child’s doctor can discuss the treatment options with you to help your child feel well again.

* The authors of this fact sheet do not specifically endorse the use of drugs for children that have not been tested in children (“off label” use). Such a determination can only be made under the recommendation of the treating health care provider.

Points to Remember

• GER occurs when stomach contents back up into the esophagus.
• GER is common in infants, but most children grow out of it.
• GER may cause vomiting, coughing, hoarseness, or painful swallowing.
• Treatment depends on the child’s symptoms and age and may include changes in eating habits and taking medications. Surgery may be an option.

Hope through Research

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, through its Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, supports basic and clinical research into gastrointestinal diseases. Researchers are studying the risk factors for developing GER and what causes the LES to open, with the aim of improving future treatment for GER. They are also studying the efficacy and safety of drug therapy for the treatment of GER in children and investigating the effectiveness of medications compared with surgery.

The U.S. Government does not endorse or favor any specific commercial product or company. Trade, proprietary, or company names appearing in this document are used only because they are considered necessary in the context of the information provided. If a product is not mentioned, the omission does not mean or imply that the product is unsatisfactory.

This information was prepared in partnership with the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN), the Children’s Digestive Health and Nutrition Foundation (CDHNF), and the Association of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition Nurses (APGNN). The information is intended only to provide general information and not as a definitive basis for diagnosis or treatment in any particular case. You should consult your child’s doctor about your child’s specific condition.

This article was produced by the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Publications produced by the Clearinghouse are reviewed by both NIDDK and outside experts. This publication was reviewed by NASPGHAN.