Nutritional Management of Regurgitation in Infants

Abstract

Infantile regurgitation is a frequently occurring problem. Throughout the world, anxious parents are imploring physicians to eliminate their infant’s regurgitation. General practitioners, pediatricians and pediatric gastroenterologists strive to alleviate infantile regurgitation and its related parental stress. In this paper we define the scope of the problem and analyze the optimal, cost-efficient management approach to simple regurgitation in infants. The intent of this paper is to disseminate this information to practicing physicians and other health care professionals in an attempt to minimize the impact of this annoying problem of infancy and to eliminate confusion and expensive diagnostic tests and use of sub-optimal treatment modalities. Parental reassurance and dietary management by feeding thickened formula are important components in managing regurgitation in infants while maintaining optimal nutritional intake for adequate growth and development.

• diagnosis
• epidemiology
• gastroesophageal reflux
• nutritional treatment
• pathophysiology
• reflux
• regurgitation
• thickened feedings

Key teaching points:

• Regurgitation is a commonly occurring problem which affects 50% of all babies; it generally resolves spontaneously at about 6 to 12 months of age.

• Regurgitation causes few clinical problems, but may be accompanied by intense irritability, feeding disorders, or failure to thrive.

• In most infants, medical intervention for regurgitation is directed at managing the problem until it resolves spontaneously.

• Parental reassurance and dietary management by feeding thickened formula are important components of managing infants while maintaining optimal nutritional intake for adequate growth and development.

Key teaching points:

• Regurgitation is a commonly occurring problem which affects 50% of all babies; it generally resolves spontaneously at about 6 to 12 months of age.

• Regurgitation causes few clinical problems, but may be accompanied by intense irritability, feeding disorders, or failure to thrive.

• In most infants, medical intervention for regurgitation is directed at managing the problem until it resolves spontaneously.

• Parental reassurance and dietary management by feeding thickened formula are important components of managing infants while maintaining optimal nutritional intake for adequate growth and development.

Supported by an unrestricted grant from Mead Johnson Nutritionals.