Doctors Prescribing Acid Reflux Drugs Too Often in Infants

In our society, we’re quick to treat many conditions with medication, but a paediatrician is saying the medical community is too quick to prescribe acid-suppressing drugs for infants who have symptoms of acid reflux.

Infants who spit up frequently, are irritable and cry a lot are often diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and are prescribed proton pump inhibitors. But Dr. Eric Hassall, a gastroenterologist in San Francisco, thinks this diagnosis is incorrect in many cases.

"In the absence of better information and physician guidance and fed by advertising and misinformation on the internet, parent blogs have increasingly promoted the 'my-baby-has-acid-reflux-and-needs-drugs' concept," he wrote in a commentary in Thursday’s issue of The Journal of Pediatrics.

Hassall believes that infants spitting up is normal behaviour, with anywhere from 40 to 70 percent of healthy infants spitting up every day. He says that the spit up often isn’t even acidic.

Hassall feels that marketing of the term “acid reflux” is partially to blame for the increase in diagnosis and prescription. He also feels it may be due to the time constraints doctors face, which gives them less time to take a full history and evaluate dietary or behaviour issues that may cause the crying or spitting up.

Acid reflux medications do come with risk of side effects, including higher risk for infections and fluctuations in levels of vitamins and minerals. Hassell suggests, before medicating, doctors offer tips on how to calm infants, such as rhythmic rocking and patting or car rides.

At SureBaby, while we know medications are necessary at some points, we also welcome all non-prescription tips and tricks that can help soothe a fussy baby. We want to hear some of yours in the comments!