Reza GunadiRanuh
Department of Child Health
Medical Faculty UniversitasAirlangga, Dr Soetomo General Hospital
Surabaya
The passage of gastric contents into the esophagus (gastroesophageal reflux, or GER) is a normal physiologic process that occurs in healthy infants. Most episodes are brief and do not cause symptoms, esophageal injury, or other complications.
The most caused of this condition is due to the immaturity of lower esophageal sphincter function, manifested by a frequent transient lower esophageal relaxations, resulting in retrograde flow of gastric contents into the esophagus.
Reflux occurs during the first 3 months of age in more than half of all healthy infants. Many infants don't require treatment. Referred to as "happy spitters," their symptoms usually disappear between 12 and 18 months of age. For most infants, reflux resolves itself during the first year of life.
Treatment of infant reflux depends on the severity of the problem. The most of clinicians may decide no treatment is needed and that the reflux will disappear on its own as the infants grows older.
However, for a small number of infants, symptoms of reflux are severe and medical evaluation and treatment is needed. If the infant is otherwise healthy, happy and growing, the clinician may recommend a few lifestyle changes for the infant in order to ease the reflux problem.
Keywords: gastroesophageal reflux, GER
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