What are the symptoms of GERD in teens?

Question: What are the symptoms of GERD in teens?

Answer: GERD is increasingly common among teens. Teens will experience many of the same symptoms as adults with GERD. If your teenager experiences chronic heartburn (two or more times a week) or any of the following symptoms, medical attention is needed.

A burning sensation in the chest or throat
A burning sensation in the throat or chest that feels worse with swallowing may be a sign that stomach contents are being refluxed up into the esophagus. This pain can last from a few minutes to hours.

Sour or bitter taste in the mouth
A sour or bitter taste can occur when stomach contents reflux up into the esophagus.

A sore, raw throat, especially upon waking in the mornings
At night, more acid is produced by the stomach and a person is lying down, which makes it much easier for the acid to flow up to the top of the esophagus and throat. This can result in a sore throat in the morning.

Hoarseness
Irritation caused by refluxed stomach acid into the throat can lead to hoarseness.

Trouble swallowing and/or a feeling like food is stuck in the throat
Trouble with swallowing (dysphagia) occurs when food does not pass normally from the mouth through the esophagus to the stomach. There may be a sensation of food sticking in the throat, chest pressure or "burning" after eating, or a feeling of choking. Difficulty swallowing could be a sign of various conditions, including erosive esophagitis, and should always be evaluated by a physician.

Respiratory problems (such as bronchitis, wheezing, asthma)
Several studies suggest a significant link between GERD and asthma. GERD can affect asthma when refluxed acid from the stomach is aspirated into the lungs, and can make breathing difficult and cause the teenager to wheeze and cough.

Nagging dry cough
A frequent dry cough may occur if refluxed stomach acid is aspirated, which can irritate the airways; refluxed stomach acid itself also can irritate the throat.

_Sources:

_{Brian Pace, MA, Richard M. Glass, MD. "Gastroesophageal Reflux in Children." JAMA, July 19, 2000---Vol 284, No. 3. The Journal of the American Medical Association. 10 Dec 2009.}

_{"Heartburn, Hiatal Hernia, and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)." NIH Publication No. 07–0882 May 2007. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. 10 Dec 2009.}

_{Marsha Kay, M.D., Vasundhara Tolia, M.D.. "COMMON GASTROINTESTINAL PROBLEMS IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS."; The American College of Gastroenterology. 10 Dec 2009}