brilliantbaby.com the website that can help you have a happy, smarter child.

GER and Milk Allergy

Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER) is defined as the involuntary passage of gastric contents into the esohagus. GER is considered “normal” if the baby is happy and thriving well. The only symptoms is frequent or occasional “spitting up.”

Some of the symptoms of GER that are not physiologic are: pain on swallowing, vomiting of blood, passing out black stools (melena), rumination, nausea and belching, slow heart rate, aspiration pneumonia, Sanddifer syndrome, laryngitis, stridor, respiratory infection, hoarseness, and apnea.

GER is usually treated with thickening of the formula with rice cereals in babies who are bottle feeding. If this does not work, change in feeding to non-cows-milk containing protein formula like soy milk, Nutramigen, Alimentum, or Neocate is tried.

If formula change is not effective medications like Zantac, Reglan, or Proton Pump Inhibitor drugs are given.

The vast majority of infants with GER do not need any medication.

Leo Leonidas, MD, FAAP Bangor, Maine

[Home] [Smart Baby] [Baby Math] [Our Graduates] [Toddlers] [Pre-School] [Today] [Diagnosis] [Medical Errors] [Physical Examination] [Treatment] [Tonsillectomy] [Best Practice] [Parents Grand Rounds] [Medical Decisions] [About Us]