Air Date: Thursday, May 30, 2002
Kids and Heartburn
We think of heartburn as an adult problem - but more and more kids are experiencing it. Healthcast reporter Janet Wu has the story on their symptoms and treatment.
Heartburn is the pain associated with acid reflux. There are many causes from stress to spicy food. The real mystery is why it's happening in kids.
Although she was just 5 when it started, Elizabeth remembers it well.
Elizabeth Chabot, 12 years old
"I felt like I was going to throw up and then it would come back down and it would make my throat hurt very bad and stuff."
Theresa Chabot, Mother
"She had a lot of coughing, and a lot of respiratory symptoms at night."
She and her mother traveled from Maine to see this specialist.
Dr. Harland Winter, MGH Pediatric Gastroenterologist
"There's been a dramatic increase in reflux in adolescents and in adults. We're seeing more esophageal strictures and more patients with problems swallowing."
While the cause of the increase is unclear, parents clearly need to know the symptoms.
They include:
- Difficulty swallowing
- Loss of appetite
- Regurgitation
- Worsening of asthma
Acid reflux is actually quite common in babies. It's usually a problem with the development of their muscles and clears up on its own. If it persists after the age of one, it's more serious and likely to continue into adulthood.
Although there are no child specific medications, the adult drugs seem to work well.
Elizabeth Chabot
"I take medicines for it, and we bought a hospital bed so I can sleep kind of elevated."
Doctors want more research since acid reflux is linked to more serious conditions, including esophageal cancer.
There does seem to be a genetic disposition for pediatric acid reflux.
So if you, or a relative, have this problem, keep a closer eye on your kids. This summer, the Society of Pediatric Gastroenterogists will be launching a public information campaign on the problem.
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