Your Child's Severe Reflux Symptoms

Severe reflux symptoms as described in your questionnaire. Learn the reasons why here.

If you filled out the questionnaire this page will explain the severe reflux symptoms your child may be suffering from. These symptoms are described by qualified medical practitioners, many that were involved in the original MarciKids study, and were determined to be classified as severe.

You can always respond to the questionnaire if you have further questions. Please review the symptoms below for detailed explanations a about your baby's symptoms.

Severe Reflux Symptoms

Gagging and Choking: This happens when acid comes up into the throat and the baby inhales, the acid gets into the lungs and causes a burning sensation and makes it difficult to breath or causes breathe interruptions and is also known as aspirating.

Gagging, Choking, Gulping, Snoring, Congestion, Loud Breathing, Recurring Nasal or Ear Infections: When the respiratory tract (such as sinuses) or throat area (larynx, pharynx) are involved, the problem is known as LPR (LaryngoPharyngeal Reflux, also known as ExtraEsophageal Reflux (EER)- these symptoms are also referred to as called Atypical GERD.  The LPR symptoms create their own problems as acid can affect the eustachian tube (and that is how infants develop ear infections and repeat ear infections), the lungs (causing apnea, ALTE, pneumonia) and other effects such as sinusitis, coughing, congestion, wheezing and noisy breathing, and snoring.  LPR is reflux into the larynx and pharynx.  It can lead to Laryngomalacia.  PLEASE READ THIS PAGE

Back arching / Seizure Like Symptoms/ Body Twisting / Shaking Head: Often confused with a neurological disorder or seizures, these symptoms can be a reaction to the pain from tissue damage that’s caused by long term GERD. We classify them as Sandifer’s syndrome.

Moderate to Severe Laryngomalacia is frequently associated with acid reflux disease.  The acid inflames the larynx and pharyngeal areas and this in turn makes the breathing more difficult.  As the inflamed tissues enlarge, more and more acid is pulled up the esophagus and onto the affected tissue of the laryngeal/pharyngeal area.

Eating Aversions / Failure to Thrive: One of the most common, and sometimes life-long symptoms of infant reflux disease are eating aversions. This is a condition that is often difficult to change because of the amount of pain associated with eating. The tissue if the esophagus can become so raw and damaged that a substantial amount of pain can be caused with every meal. These pain association with eating tends to carry on into a lifetime of eating habits and is a contributor to failure to thrive.

Food Intolerances / MSPI or FPIES: Milk, Soy, Protein Intolerance & Food protein-induced Enterocolitis Syndrome. Both food allergies and can cause serious symptoms. Many which are GERD related. Food Intolerances or allergies. Trying to determine what your baby is allergic to is challenging and takes a lot of trial an error. Treatment to eliminate pain is crucial. PLEASE READ THIS PAGE.

Breath Interruptions, Apnea & Blue/Purple Baby Syndrome - ALTE (Apparent Life Threatening Event: The treatment of GERD is essential to preventing Apparent Life Threatening Events as stated in this medical publication: (GERD influences significantly the time of normalization of the cardiorespiratory monitoring in infants with ALTE. GERD diagnosis and treatment are mandatory in these patients). You must control the acid reflux to prevent further life threatening events.

Connecting with a doctor that specializes in infant reflux is very important when you are witnessing your child suffering from severe reflux symptoms!