Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux

Doctors believe that there is a link between Laryngomalacia and Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux although there are no single mechanisms to link the two together.  It seems that in some patients with Laryngomalacia, reflux may be the cause of their airway problems, in others it is an additional factor.  Research suggests that 68-80% of infants with Laryngomalacia have reflux of gastric acid up to the back of the throat (pharynx) and this may cause swelling of the lining of the larynx which is common in infants with Laryngomalacia.

Reflux is very common in infants as the muscular valve at the entrance of the stomach which holds the food in may be weak, as a result of this the stomach contents can be brought up frequently into the oesophagus (gullet).  Continuous reflux of acid from the stomach may cause the oesophagus to become inflamed.  Symptoms can be vomiting, gagging/choking, repeated chest infections, weight loss, failure to thrive, hiccups, dysphagia (feeling like you have something stuck in your throat and trying to clear it), crying for no apparent reason (arching their back and bringing their legs forward), having smelly unsoiled nappies, wind (can be very bad and as loud as an adults), hoarseness (their cry is usually different and they can stop babbling for a few days), coughing, and sour breath.  This condition can be helped by raising the infant’s bed by a few inches to keep the stomach contents down, by keeping the infant upright when awake, feeding the infant in an upright position, and by thickening the feed or introducing more solids.  Medication can also help this condition.  If there is no improvement an operation called a fundoplication can be performed.

Links to other sites on this topic

www.gpnotebook.co.uk

www.netdoctor.co.uk

www.ich.ucl.ac.uk

www.patient.co.uk