Why Babies Are Born With Acid Reflux

Acid reflux, also called gastroesophageal reflux (GER), affects people of all ages but infants are particularly prone to the disorder because a baby's muscles are not mature enough to keep his stomach contents out of his throat.

Cause

• The lower esophageal sphincter is the ring-shaped muscle connecting the esophagus to the stomach and it normally opens and closes only when you swallow. This muscle is still immature in infants and it sometimes opens, allowing stomach contents to flow up into the esophagus and mouth, says the Mayo Clinic.

Occurence

• Reflux can occur when a baby strains, coughs, cries or eats too quickly, or when an air bubble in the esophagus forces food up into the mouth.

Prevalence

• Reflux affects more than half of all babies under 3 months old but usually disappears between the first and second birthday, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC).

Symptoms

• Babies with reflux usually spit up frequently and may experience poor or difficult feeding and irritability during or after eating.

Treatment

• Most babies with acid reflux are healthy and require no treatment, but infants with more severe symptoms may need their feeding and sleeping habits adjusted, may require prescription medication or, in very serious cases, may need surgery.