GERD is a chronic digestive disorder that will be affecting people of all age groups including children and this will be happening when stomach acid or food will be flowing back into the oesophagus due to weak and relaxed muscles. When occasional reflux happens it is considered to be much more normal but GERD will always include the frequent and uncomfortable symptoms which can affect the sleeping pattern, growth and overall well-being of the kids. Common symptoms in this case will be chest pain, frequent vomiting, poor appetite and heartburn which is the main reason that remaining in touch with the paediatric gastroenterologist in Pune will always be very much important.
Practical pieces of advice to improve the comfort and reduce the complications:
- Maintenance of GERD-friendly diet: There are a good number of food items which can create issues with acid reflux by relaxing the muscles and increasing the stomach acidity. So, it is very much important for you to make sure that your children are avoiding and limiting the consumption of chocolates, spicy food items, fried and fatty food items, citrus fruit, juice, tomato-related products and carbonated drinks. Instead of this focusing on balance that is rich in grains, vegetables and lean protein will always be important so that there is no chance of any kind of overwhelming situation for the digestive system. This will allow you to deal with things very easily and there will be no scope for any kind of problem.
- It is important to keep the meals very light and improve the timing properly: Very large meals will increase the pressure on the stomach and further worsen the entire condition of GERD. So, providing your kids with small and frequent meals throughout the day will be highly recommended for parents and further you should avoid giving them big meals and snacks right before bedtime. Ideally, there should be a gap of 2-3 hours between the last meal and lying down for sleep so that there is no chance of any kind of nighttime symptoms of GERD at any point in time.
- Encouraging proper positioning after eating: After the meals, the paediatric gastro specialist in Pune will very well recommend that the parents focus on maintaining the appropriate positioning for the kids and they should remain upright for approximately 30 minutes to avoid gravity to keep the food down. Discouraging the activities that involve bending or flat lying after eating will be important because all such positions will make the entire situation very much worse. Encouraging gentle activities like reading and playing in a seated position is also very important to avoid any issues in the whole process.
- It is important to elevate the head during sleep: Many children suffering from GERD will be experiencing nighttime and elevating the head of the bed by approximately 6-8 inches will be important so that there is no situation of acid flowing back into the system during sleep. You can also go for using the pillows and place the blocks under the legs of the head of the bed so that there is no chance of any kind of problem. Additionally, you should focus on avoiding using multiple pillows under the head of the child because it will lead to worsening of the condition. Hence having a clear idea about the appropriate positioning and elevation of the head during sleep is important to avoid any problems
- It is important to avoid very tight clothing: A Tight belt, waistband band or clothing around the abdomen will be putting extra pressure on the stomach and will further trigger the entire situation. Hence having a clear idea about dressing your children in comfortable and loose-fitting clothes will always be important, especially after eating.
- Maintenance of healthy weight: Doctors across the world very well recommend that parents focus on maintaining a healthy weight for the kids because it will genuinely maintain the abdominal pressure and will never create the worsening of symptoms at any point in time. If the children are overweight then you should get in touch with the doctors about a safe and gradual improvement of a great management plan so that healthy eating and physical activity will be very well sorted out. Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight will usually lead to significant improvement in which is the main reason that getting things done whenever required is always important to avoid any problem. In some of the cases, the lifestyle changes will not be enough and the Doctor will be prescribing the medication which you have to take very seriously so that overall production of acid will be genuinely under control and there will be no condition of GERD in kids. Additionally, you should make sure that any kind of medication has been consumed under appropriate medical supervision because long-term consumption will have effects and you should never give your children over-the-counter medication without consulting the healthcare provider.
- Remaining very much cautious and aware of the complications and symptoms: The chronic GERD will sometimes lead to very serious complications like inflammation, poor weight gain, breathing problems and feeding difficulties. So consistently remaining in touch with the doctors will be important in all such cases so that there is no chance of any kind of painful swallowing, there is no blood vomit or stool and there is no chance of persistent coughing or failure to gain weight. Timely intervention will prevent the long-term damage and will further provide you with better health outcomes in the whole process without any issues.
Conclusion: Educating and empowering your child with the help of a famous paediatric neurologist is also a very important aspect to be taken into account so that you can establish a partnership with professionals and get these things done on the right track. With this GERD will be perfectly manageable with the right strategies and simple lifestyle and dietary changes so that your children can equally and perfectly contribute towards successful long-term management. Working closely with your healthcare team and encouraging communication will be important so that your kids can feel better without any problems.