Dr. Phil Hariram's Health Blog

Acid reflux treatment can be in many different forms. First there are drugs that reduce acid level by neutralisation. These are basic antacids. They are safe but there are things you need to be aware of because these drugs are readily available over the counter. In addition some can have side effects. Aluminium salts can [...]

Two group of drugs are mainly used as acid reflux treatment in GERD in children. The acid reflux treatment is in the form of acid suppression. H2-receptor antagonists were the first group available. The first of these was cemetidine (Tagamet). Its use is now largely replaced by ranitidine (Zantac). Protein Pump Inhibitors have been shown [...]

If conservative treatment such as thickened feed, smaller and frequent feeds etc make no difference to acid reflux then trial of medical treatment for acid reflux may be necessary. If medication works then no further action is necessary. If, however, there is no improvement then diagnostic testing and assessment of severity is the next step. [...]

Moderate gastro-esophageal reflux in infants is managed effectively by conservative treatment. Healthy children with acid reflux without GERD should respond to thickened smaller and more frequent feeds. Prone position in infants with GERD is an effective acid reflux treatment measure. The recommendation, however, is that a child should sleep in the supine (lying face upwards) [...]

After infancy, GERD presentation becomes more classical. The symptoms of esophagitis is mainly heartburn or other types of chest pain. Other complaints include pain on swallowing and difficulty in swallowing. Associated problems include stricture and iron deficiency anaemia. Children with GERD also show respiratory signs. Persistent coughing and wheezing is due to aspiration. Aspiration pneumonia [...]

The majority of children seen by family doctors with reflux symptoms are symptom free within a year. An infant with GERD, however, will have esophagitis. A child with esophagitis is usually restless, in pain and cries a lot. Feeding problems will dominate parents time and there is a likelihood of iron deficiency anaemia. There is, [...]

Reflux in children is a very common phenomenon and usually resolves after six to twelve months. Most are controlled by conservative measures. These measures include smaller more frequent feeds, thickened feeds, placing the child in a position that reduces reflux. True GERD is not common but warrants further investigations, diagnosis and management. To treat acid [...]

Children are advised not to smoke because it is bad for them but do you know that smoking in this age group can lead to esophagitis? This information takes a minor role or none at all in anti-smoking campaigns especially when smoking is a major killer globally and respiratory problems are so common. Most people [...]

Esophagitis can develop as a result of other medical conditions. Here is a list of conditions where esophagitis is not uncommon. Cerebral Palsy. Raised Intracranial Pressure. Celiac Disease. Crohn’s Disease. Glycogen Storage Disease. Chronic Granulomatous Disease. Scleroderma. Vasculitis. Dr. Phil Hariram,

Trauma can result in injury to the esophagus and subsequent esophagitis. This can be accidental or intentional. Esophagitis can also follow treatment to or near the esophagus. Radiation for mediastinal disease can lead to esophageal inflammation and resultant stricture. These strictures develop between the first and tenth year after treatment. A nasogastric tube can lead [...]