Pediatrics - Indigestion

Whenever your child eats and drinks, food travels through your child’s digestive system for processing.  Your child’s body absorbs nutrients and removes waste products via his or her digestive system.  When your child eats, his or her tongue moves chewed food to the back of the throat.  When your child swallows, the food moves into the opening of the esophagus.  The esophagus is a tube that moves food from your child’s throat to the stomach.

 

The stomach produces acids to break down food for digestion.  Your child’s stomach processes the food into a liquid form.  The processed liquid travels from the stomach to the small intestine.  The liquid solidifies as it moves through the large intestine, forming a stool.  The stool is eliminated from your child’s body when he or she has a bowel movement.

Indigestion is a common problem.  It occurs for many reasons.  Eating too fast, eating too much, or eating certain foods can cause indigestion.  Spicy foods, high-fat or high-fiber foods, caffeine, and carbonated beverages can lead to indigestion.  Alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking can also cause indigestion.  Indigestion can also be caused by a bacteria called H. pylori which can cause stomach ulcers as well.
 
Emotional trauma, anxiety, and depression can contribute to indigestion.  It can also be caused by some medications including antibiotics, steroids, thyroid medications, aspirin, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).  In some cases, indigestion is a symptom of an underlying medical condition including symptomatic ulcers, nonulcer dyspepsia, stomach infection, GERD, irritable bowel disease, inflammatory bowel disease, pregnancy, thyroid disease, and inflammation of the stomach, gallbladder, or pancreas.

Indigestion is the sensation of upper abdominal discomfort.  Your child may experience pain or a burning feeling in his or her stomach or upper abdomen.  Your child may feel full or bloated.  Indigestion can cause belching, gas, vomiting, nausea, and stomach growling. 

Your doctor can start to diagnose indigestion after reviewing your child’s medical history and conducting a physical examination.  You should tell your doctor about your child’s symptoms and risk factors.  Your doctor may order blood tests and imaging tests to help confirm the diagnosis and rule out other conditions with similar symptoms.  Imaging tests may include X-rays, an abdominal ultrasound, a barium swallow, and an upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy.

 

X-rays may be taken of your child’s stomach or small intestine.  X-rays are painless procedures that simply require that your child remain motionless while a picture is taken.  An abdominal ultrasound is used to monitor blood flow and provide images of your child’s internal organs.  An ultrasound image is received from a device that is gently placed and moved over your child’s skin.
 
An Upper Gastrointestinal (GI) Series or Barium Swallow provides a set of X-rays showing the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine.  Before the X-rays are taken, barium, a chalky substance, is swallowed.  The barium provides an image of the upper gastrointestinal structures on the X-ray images.  A barium swallow is commonly used to determine the cause of abdominal pain, swallowing problems, blood stained vomit, and/or unexplained weight loss.  A barium swallow is an outpatient procedure that does not require sedation or anesthesia.

 

An Upper Gastrointestinal Intestinal (GI) Endoscopy is a procedure that uses an endoscope to view the esophagus, stomach, and upper duodenum, the first part of the small intestine.  This test is also called an Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) or a Gastroscopy.  An endoscope is a long thin tube with a light and a viewing instrument that sends images to monitor.  The endoscope allows a doctor to examine the inside of the upper gastrointestinal tract for bleeding, tumors, ulcers, and other abnormal conditions.  A tissue sample or biopsy can be taken with the endoscope.  It is also used to treat bleeding.  An upper GI endoscopy is an outpatient procedure.  Your child will receive a medication to relax prior to the test.

Some cases of indigestion may go away without formal treatment.  Other cases of indigestion may be relieved with medications.  If indigestion is the symptom of an underlying medical condition, the medical condition should be treated.

It is important to have the medical conditions that cause your child’s indigestion treated.  Avoiding the triggers that cause it may prevent indigestion.  Talk to your doctor about your child’s medications that cause indigestion.  Your doctor may be able to substitute another medication that does not. 
 
Your child may need to forgo certain foods.  Children should not consume alcohol or smoke cigarettes.  It can be helpful for your child to change the way he or she eats, such as eating slower and eating small meals.  It can also be helpful to avoid lying down or exercising right after a meal.  

Because indigestion can be a symptom of a more serious medical condition, you should call your doctor if your child experiences blood in his or her vomit or stools, black tarry stools, weight loss, loss of appetite, and severe abdominal pain or discomfort. 

 

Symptoms of indigestion may be similar to those caused by a heart attack.  You should call Emergency Medical Services in your area, usually 911, immediately if you suspect someone is having a heart attack.  Symptoms of a heart attack may include symptoms of indigestion plus shortness of breath, sweating, or pain that spreads to the jaw, neck, or arm.