Kids and Tummies
Pediatric Gastroenterologists located in Gulfport, MS & Ocean Springs, MS
The board-certified team at Kids and Tummies in Gulfport and Ocean Springs, Mississippi, provides expert care for your child’s abdominal pain. They are skilled in diagnosing your child’s condition and have the expertise to provide successful treatment. To schedule an appointment, call the friendly practice today or book your appointment online.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Specialist
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Q & A
What is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)?
Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a condition where stomach acid flows into your child’s esophagus, causing pain and other symptoms commonly thought of as indigestion.
The esophagus is a tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. There’s a valve (strong ring of muscle) at the bottom of your esophagus called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) that opens when you swallow to let food pass into the stomach, and then closes to stop stomach acid from getting out.
If the LES opens or closes when it shouldn’t, it can cause symptoms of GERD. Babies often have gastroesophageal reflux (GER), which isn’t usually a problem and just causes spitting up after a feed.
GERD is less common than GER in infants and is more serious, potentially leading to breathing problems, difficulty with healthy weight gain, and esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus).
What causes gastroesophageal reflux disease?
The causes of GERD in infants and young children might relate to how their esophagus and stomach are developing. For example, the angle where their esophagus meets their stomach, muscle development in the lower end of their esophagus, or pinched diaphragm fibers.
In older children, the causes are likely to be diet and lifestyle-related. Being overweight or obese, eating a high-fat diet, and overfilling the stomach could be to blame.
The Kids and Tummies team can determine the cause of your child’s GERD based on their symptoms. In some cases, they might want to run tests to check for conditions with similar symptoms to GERD, such as eosinophilic esophagitis.
What are the symptoms of GERD?
Symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease in babies and preschoolers include:
- Fussy eating or refusal to eat
- Not gaining weight
- Having breathing difficulties
- Vomiting regularly after they’re 6 months old
- Pain after eating
Older children and adolescents might experience chest pain (heartburn), have swallowing problems, cough or sound hoarse, belch excessively, have frequent nausea, and have abdominal pain that worsens when they lie down.
How is GERD treated in children?
Mild cases of gastroesophageal reflux disease might just require lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, eating smaller meals, and avoiding lying down after eating. Your child should also avoid spicy or high-fat foods and carbonated drinks.
Medications can help with GERD, but these are normally only prescribed if lifestyle changes aren’t sufficient on their own. Medications reduce the quantity of acid in your child’s stomach and stop the stomach from producing so much acid.
If your child has any symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease, call Kids and Tummies today to schedule a consultation or book an appointment online.
Accepting New Patients
Would you like to schedule a new patient appointment with Dr. Ulmer? If so, please click here for our New Patient Packet and for information about your first visit. Click here to Request an Appointment, and find information on our office hours and locations.
Primary Services
The team offers comprehensive evaluations and therapies, treating each young patient with personalized care. They include the entire family in the child’s treatment, making visits and treatments an all-inclusive experience. The personalized attention they give children to ensure their successful outcomes make them a standout practice.
To schedule an appointment, call Kids and Tummies today or book an appointment online.
Office
Office
Monday to Friday : 8am – 4pm