Symptoms of GERD (GER) in Children

Children, and even infants, can suffer from acid reflux disease. What are the symptoms of gastro reflux in children?

Pediatric Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (often referred to as Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER)) may display the following signs and symptoms:

Pain
Irritability, constant or sudden crying, back arching, abdominal pain above the belly button, chest pain, burning sensation in the esophagus.

Vomiting
Frequent spitting-up or vomiting, spitting-up after six months of age.

Eating
Extreme pickiness about foods or textures, refusing food, eating only a few bites despite hunger, gagging, choking, poor weight gain, weight loss.

Respiratory
Bad breath, constantly runny nose, frequent sore throat, sinus infections, bronchitis, wheezing, asthma, nighttime cough, nagging dry cough, hoarse or deep voice.

Other symptoms
Frequent waking, frequent ear infections and/or ear congestion, tooth enamel erosion, excessive salivation, excessive drooling, needing to be held upright, intolerant of pressure on the stomach.


This is not an all-inclusive list of symptoms. There may be others.

This information is provided for general educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of physicians.

Additional resources on children and GERD