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32 years
If it happens once/twice a week, can we still consider it reflux? Can it be related to cold, shower etc, causing winds? I am used to warm his bottles and to prepare it just before feeding.
Oct 30, 2014

Dr. Zakia Dimassi Pediatrics
You need to distinguish between gastro-esophageal reflux (GER), which is simple regurgitation of partially digested food through the mouth and/or nose, and gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD): physiologic GER in infants is defined as painless regurgitation that does not affect growth. These infants are known as ‘happy spitters’ and as a rule of thumb management is conservative, based on with parental education, reassurance, and thickening of formula. Most cases resolve by 18 months of age. GERD on the other hand is manifested by symptoms like weight loss, irritability, and back arching with or refusal of feeds. In such cases, a laboratory workup and imaging of the upper gastro-intestinal tract should be considered, and treatment is with lifestyle modification, medication, or for intractable cases, surgery.
The question of whether cold exposure causes reflux or even flatulence was not found to be well established as a cause-effect observation in scientific studies, yet it still is a plausible explanation. As such, minimize your baby's exposure to cold, especially that small babies have an not fully developed abdominal musculature which makes their intestines not well protected.
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