What causes heartburn in infants and children?
Heartburn in infants and young children is usually a sign of gastroesophageal reflux (GERD). That’s a condition that occurs when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus — the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. There is a muscle at the bottom of the esophagus called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The LES normally keeps acids in the stomach. But if the LES relaxes too much, the harsh stomach acids can rise up and irritate the delicate lining of the esophagus. That leads to heartburn as well as other symptoms. GERD is an uncomfortable — but very common — condition in infants. Up to half of all babies less than 3 months old have symptoms of the condition. Spitting up is a common sign of GERD, but many babies also experience the discomfort of heartburn. In very young children, the cause of heartburn is usually an immature digestive tract. In older children, risks include being overweight, getting exposed to secondhand smoke, and eating certain types of foods (for exampl
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