A new therapy for treating gastro-oesophageal reflux in babies

Aug 25 2009

20% of parents seek medical help because of the frequent regurgitation (spitting up food) of their baby and the accompanying discomfort (crying). Reputed medical journal "Archives of Disease in Childhood" of the "British Medical Journal" group recently published the results of the clinical research project that began at the end of 2006 in the Children's gastroenterology department of the Brussels University Hospital.

The AR bed, a development of the MULTICARE Company and the Brussels University Hospital, was investigated in a group of babies that regurgitated and cried a lot, for who medication or adapted food hadn't helped. It was determined that the "AR bed" resulted in less regurgitation and crying in 3/4 of the babies. In addition, it was objectively established that the reflux index (% of time when there is acid in the oesophagus, measured with pH metry) almost halved within a week.

Taking account of the period of despair to desperation among parents and their baby, whether or not combined with various examinations (oesophagoscopy , pH metry, etc.), in their search for a suitable adaptation of food and medication, the AR bed can offer comfort much sooner: in general, improvement is noticed within a day.

The AR bed is now suggested by paediatricians as a first step in the treatment of regurgitation and/or gastro-oesophageal reflux. Apart from reassuring parents, a nutritional approach (adapted volume, thickened Anti-Regurgitation food); this posture therapy contributes to the decrease of complaints. This is a major step forward in ending the spiral of medication overuse in babies who spit up food and cry a lot.

Professor Y. Vandenplas: "Medication is mainly of use in reflux disease, i.e. acid reflux and oesophagitis. Many babies who spit up food do not have reflux disease. In other words, medication has little use for these babies. All medication has potential side effects, which is why avoiding this medication is preferable. Experience with the MULTICARE AR bed has taught us that a fair number of children no longer needed to take medication."

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