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Can Acid Reflux Cause Chronic Cough?

Anyone can get acid reflux, and that includes children. Infants may exhibit symptoms different from adults. They may become irritable after eating, repeatedly belch or vomit, or suffer from persistent coughing. These symptoms may manifest as poor feeding and impaired weight gain or colic. acid reflux is often overlooked in young children because their symptoms are very subtle and infants often outgrow the condition.

Parents can take precautions to prevent acid reflux symptoms in infants, such as keeping infants upright for 30 minutes after feeding instead of placing them directly in the crib. Also, burping the baby more frequently during feeding time can help to avoid the buildup of gas and pressure that may add to a baby’s acid reflux discomfort. If you feed your baby formula, consider changing the formula to reduce symptoms; you should discuss this decision with your child’s doctor. If these simple measures do not help, medications may be in order. Some H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in children.

Children experiencing reflux can exhibit typical symptoms, such as heartburn and regurgitation, or atypical symptoms. Frequently, children with asthma have acid reflux that may be silent and they exhibit no acid reflux symptoms. These children can require multiple medications for asthma. A trial of antacid medication can be helpful in improving asthma symptoms or decrease the need for asthma medications. You can discuss this with your pediatrician.

As children become older, they can make lifestyle modifications similar to the ones mentioned for adults (i.e., avoiding carbonated beverages, avoiding alcohol, eating dinner early, etc.) to reduce their acid reflux symptoms.

Can Acid Reflux Cause Chronic Cough? References

By Mortin - Copyright 2009
Last modification 31/12/2009