(801) 442-2000
36 S. State Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84111Map

KidsCare Online

Spitting Up, Reflux

Does this describe your symptom?

  
  • The effortless spitting up or reflux of 1 or 2 mouthfuls of stomach contents.
  • Smaller amounts often occur with burping ("wet burps").
  • Larger amounts can occur after overfeeding.
  • Usually seen during or shortly after feedings.
  • Occurs mainly in children under 1 year of age and begins in the first weeks of life.
  • More than half of all infants have occasional spitting up ("happy spitters").
    Cause
  • Poor closure of the valve at the upper end of the stomach.
  • Complications: choking on spit up milk, heartburn from acid on lower esophagus, poor weight gain.
  • Also called gastroesophageal reflux (GE reflux), regurgitation.

    Reflux compared to Vomiting

    During the first month of life, newborns with true vomiting need to be seen immediately because the causes can be serious. Therefore, it is important to tell the difference between reflux and true vomiting.

  • Reflux (spitting up): is more likely in the infant previously diagnosed with reflux, the onset was early in life (85% occur within the first 7 days of life), present for several days or weeks, no discomfort during spitting up, no diarrhea, the infant is hungry, looks well and acts happy.

  • Vomiting (throwing up): is more likely when the infant is uncomfortable when throwing up, it is a new symptom starting today or yesterday, it is associated with diarrhea, projectile or forceful throwing up, or the infant looks or acts sick.

If not, see these other symptoms

  • If large volume and comes out forcefully, see VOMITING
  1. Should I Call?
  2. Care at Home

Parent Care for Pediatric Symptoms. Copyright © 2000-2008. Barton D. Schmitt, MD
Reviewed/Modified: Sept 2008 by Intermountain Healthcare, Inc.


Logo Intermountain Healthcare Home

© 2007 Intermountain Healthcare, Salt Lake City, Utah. All Rights Reserved.