Symptom 4: Heartburn
Heartburn paints a vivid picture. It’s like an uninvited flame flickering in the chest, often rising up the throat. Children grappling with heartburn might place a hand on their chest, describing it as a “hot” or “burny” feeling. It’s not just discomforting but can be particularly alarming if the young one doesn’t quite understand what’s happening inside them.
At the heart of heartburn (pun unintended) is stomach acid. This potent concoction is excellent for digesting food but becomes a problem when it ventures out of its designated zone. Sometimes, this acid finds its way up the esophagus. Given the esophagus isn’t equipped to handle such corrosiveness, it responds with a burning sensation, a cry for help if you will.
Prevention is better than cure, they say, and it holds especially true for heartburn. Ensuring children don’t lie down immediately after eating, encouraging smaller meal portions, and identifying triggering foods can significantly reduce heartburn episodes. Drinks like sodas or excessively spicy foods are often the usual suspects.
While heartburn is relatively common, especially after indulging in a spicy treat or two, frequent bouts are a cause for concern. Chronic heartburn could point towards gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition where the esophageal sphincter doesn’t function as it should. (4)
