What is Reflux?
Reflux disease is the displacement of gastric secretions consisting of acid, bile and mucus up to the esophagus or mouth.
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Reflux disease is the displacement of gastric secretions consisting of acid, bile and mucus up to the esophagus or mouth. Reflux disease is manifested by a bitter taste and a feeling of food that comes up to the mouth. Atypical reflux, on the other hand, can cause a lump in the throat after edema that develops on the inside of the esophagus.
Again, in the same way, depending on the spasm that occurs after irritation, it can cause complaints such as chest pain. It can also be confused with heart disease, especially due to chest pain. Apart from this, it can also cause complaints such as hoarseness, dry cough, painful swallowing or difficulty swallowing, or hiccups.
What Are the Symptoms of Reflux?
Reflux disease can be examined under 2 headings, typical and atypical symptoms. The most common typical reflux symptoms include burning in the stomach, heartburn, a bitter taste in the mouth, pain in the chest, or food coming into the mouth. Decongested reflux is the most common type of reflux.
Atypical reflux findings, on the other hand, are often confused with otolaryngological diseases. The most common atypical reflux symptoms are sinusitis, dry cough, bad breath, hoarseness or tooth decay.
Reflux disease is often confused with heart or chest diseases because it usually causes chest pain.
Reflux can also cause many diseases. For example, one of the most common causes of chronic pharyngitis is reflux disease. In the same way, if the liquids in the stomach go up and escape into the windpipe and mix with the lungs, they can also cause reflux, lung diseases or asthma in the long term.
Diagnosis of Reflux
For the diagnosis of reflux, patient complaints are primarily taken into account. But in some patients, no complaints or symptoms may not be observed. Usually, the first diagnosis to be made for the diagnosis of reflux is gastroscopy. With gastroscopy, the gastric valve is examined, whether there is a gastric hernia and the state of damage to the esophagus is examined. The physician may take tissue samples from the stomach if necessary.
Apart from gastroscopy, another diagnostic method used for reflux is PHMETER. The pHmeter is used to measure the amount of acid escaping into the esophagus. Apart from these, a manometer procedure is also one of the procedures used in the diagnosis of reflux. The manometer procedure is used to examine whether there is another problem in the esophagus that can lead to reflux.
How is Reflux Treatment Done?
Treatment of reflux usually begins with a change in lifestyle. For example, it is necessary not to lie down after eating, eat little and often, avoid carbonated and alcoholic beverages. Again, it is necessary to properly use medications that will be recommended by the doctor to remove acidity, ensure the regular functioning of the esophagus and stomach.
Surgery to Treat Reflux
If reflux disease is caused by an anatomical problem such as a gastric hernia that cannot be corrected by lifestyle changes or reflux medications, surgical treatment can be applied in this case. Again, reflux surgery may be the case if no results can be obtained after long-term treatment in young patients or if they need lifelong treatment.
What Is Good for Reflux?
Among the things that are Decently good for reflux;
• Staying hungry for a long time takes place
* It is necessary to chew food well, consume it in small quantities and often
• It is necessary to take fluid intake not with meals, but half an hour before or after eating
• It is very important to cut the last meal at least two hours before going to bed at night and not to go to bed on a full stomach
* Since the meals eaten before bedtime can increase the stomach pressure, the reflux complaint will also increase considerably.
How Should the Diet of Those With Reflux Be?
Reflux occurs when stomach acid escapes into the esophagus as a result of the failure of the stomach valve to perform its function. Reflux disease can be controlled by changing the eating habit. People with reflux disease should avoid certain foods.
People who have reflux disease;
* Spicy foods,
* Alcoholic beverages,
• Coffee,
* Carbonated drinks,
* Fatty foods,
• Chocolate,
* Onion, garlic,
• It is recommended to avoid the consumption of foods that will trigger reflux, such as pickles.
Reflux in Infants
Reflux in babies usually begins with complaints of vomiting in the first year. But it is extremely normal for babies to have a reflux called physiological reflux in the first year. Reflux symptoms in babies are observed in the form of how many times a day and how they vomit, the baby's lying position, how much feeding and whether the baby's gas is removed, and these symptoms should be well investigated. It is very important to distinguish well between reflux and physiological reflux..
In the treatment of reflux in infants, families are informed about the hospitalization position, feeding pattern and amount. If there is reflux that persists after one year despite all these practices, the baby's treatment is started by the doctor.
Reflux in Children
Reflux in children, just like in adults, there are structures called “Decapitation” between the stomach and esophagus, even if they are not in the form of a real valve, due to their functions. This valve, if it works normally, prevents the acid contents of the stomach from escaping into the esophagus. Otherwise, this acid content can escape into the esophagus and cause damage, and this is called reflux disease.
The most important factors that reflux causes corrupt the movements of the esophagus and stomach, increased intra-abdominal pressure (hypertension), editing systems degraded by acid in the stomach, inappropriate physical activity, certain drugs, hormones, various foods, cigarette smoke, hernia, and can be considered as genetic factors.
Reflux disease can also be seen in children, but it is necessary to distinguish physiological reflux, which occurs especially in the first six months, from reflux disease. The cover in question develops with the growth of the child. However, just as the baby cannot hold his head or walk when he is born for the first time, this valve does not work fully in the first time of life and physiological reflux occurs. This condition passes by itself as it grows.
If a baby or child does not gain enough weight, constantly vomits, refuses to eat and has no appetite, reflux disease may be one of the conditions that should be considered.
In some patients, the progressive reflux table, which is not treated, may cause the child to become unable to swallow food, although rarely.
Children may not be able to correctly describe the burning sensation at the upper end of the esophagus where it joins the mouth, as well as bad breath may occur due to acid coming into the mouth in children older than one year, teeth rot from the inside, reflux may occur in children in the form of hoarseness that does not pass, chronic cough and excessive belching.
What Happens If Reflux in Children Is Not Treated?
If the appropriate treatment of reflux disease is not performed, esophageal inflammation may occur, the normal tissues of the esophagus may undergo changes, resulting in a condition called “Barrett's esophagus”.
Dental caries, anemia, growth retardation and esophageal stenosis can also occur in cases where reflux is not treated.
Diseases That Accompany Reflux
* Resistant iron deficiency anemia
* Hoarseness
* Laryngitis that does not go away due to constant leakage and irritation from the bottom up
* Pharyngitis
• Sinusitis
* Otitis
* Despite the surgery, the nasal flesh grows again
* Treatment-resistant asthma
* Tooth decay, bad breath
* Sandifer Syndrome (the child constantly throws his head back to be comfortable)
* Sleep disorders
• Inability to sleep comfortably
* Constantly waking up at night
* Recurrent pneumonia (pneumonia)
Diagnosis of Reflux in Children
Physical examination and detailed medical history have an important place in the diagnosis of reflux disease in children. While the diagnosis can be made with a history and physical examination, especially in classic reflux disease, further examination may be required in younger children and patients presenting with different complaints.
In the story, it is necessary to question how the child is fed, the relationship with excessively spicy, fatty, sugary and cocoa foods that can prevent the closure of this lid, which can lead to the exit of stomach contents into the esophagus, whether the cough increases when he goes to bed.
Height and weight measurement and growth evaluation are important in physical examination.
If there are no alarming signs in the child, control treatment can be started first, but in cases where alarming signs are present, direct endoscopic examinations can also be decided.
In endoscopy, the esophagus is visualized and it is seen whether there is an anatomical disorder in its entrance and exit.
Barium X-ray, scintigraphy, 24-hour pH monitoring, manometer, multichannel impedance monitoring and wireless pH monitoring can also be used as a more detailed examination and diagnostic method when necessary.
Treatment of Reflux in Children
Lying on the left side, raising the head of the bed, weakening overweight children, and treating constipation if there is constipation can be extremely effective in reflux disease.
In addition, it is recommended that parents choose suitable sports for their children and keep their children away from sports that require handstands, such as gymnastics.
The main treatment of reflux disease in children can be achieved by changing eating and drinking habits and lifestyle, as well as medications that reduce acid secretion in the stomach, protect the surface of the stomach, regulate stomach movements, can be used in some patients for an average of three to six months.
Surgical treatment in children is rarely a preferred approach, but it can be applied in some cases.