Version July 2025
Please read the Disclaimer at the end of this page.
What are discharge instructions? —
Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of your child after getting medical care in the emergency department ("ED").
What should I know? —
Your child was seen in the ED for acid reflux. This is when the acid that is normally in the stomach backs up into the esophagus. When acid reflux causes bothersome symptoms or damage, it is called "gastroesophageal reflux disease" ("GERD").
A small amount of acid reflux is normal. Your child might have symptoms like heartburn (a burning feeling in the chest) or regurgitation (when acid and undigested food flow back into the throat or mouth). They might also have other symptoms like stomach or chest pain, trouble swallowing, raspy voice, sore throat, cough, nausea, or vomiting.
The doctor thinks it is safe for you to treat your child's acid reflux at home.
How do I care for my child at home? —
Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for your child. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.
You should also do the following:
●Call your child's regular doctor and tell them your child was in the ED. Make a follow-up appointment if you were told to.
●Give your child all their medicines as instructed. These might include antacids, histamine blockers, or proton pump inhibitors ("PPIs"). Some of these are available without a prescription. Do not give your child any medicine without talking to their doctor first.
●Help your child lose weight (if they have excess body weight). Talk to their doctor or nurse so you do this in a healthy way.
●Raise the head of your child's bed by 6 to 8 inches. You can put blocks of wood or rubber under 2 legs of the bed or a foam wedge under the mattress. It is not enough to sleep with their head raised on pillows. Do not raise the head of a crib.
●Have your child sleep on their left side.
●Help your child avoid foods that make their symptoms worse. These might include coffee, chocolate, peppermint, and fatty foods. It might help to write down what they ate before having reflux. This can help you figure out if a food is causing their symptoms.
●Avoid late meals. Lying down with a full stomach can make reflux worse. Try to plan your child's meals for at least 2 to 3 hours before bedtime.
●Do not dress your child in tight clothing. They might feel better if they wear comfortable clothing that does not squeeze their stomach area.
●Do not smoke or vape around your child. Do not let them be in places where people are smoking or vaping.
When should I get emergency help?
●Call for emergency help right away (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if:
•Your child has sudden, severe belly pain, or constant belly pain.
•Your child's belly is hard or swollen.
●Return to the ED if your child:
•Cannot keep any fluids down, has not had anything to drink in many hours, and has 1 or more of these:
-Your child is not as alert as usual, is very sleepy, or is much less active than normal.
-Your child is crying all the time.
-Your child has not urinated for over 12 hours.
-Your child's skin is cool.
•Vomits blood, or their vomit is black, bright yellow or green, or looks like coffee grounds
When should I call the doctor? — Call for advice if:
●Your child does not want to eat, or is losing weight without trying.
●Your child is having trouble feeding normally.
●Your child has a dry mouth.
●Your child has few or no tears when they cry.
●Your child's urine is dark.
●Your child is less active than normal.
●Your child vomits more forcefully and more often than usual.
●Your child has new or worsening symptoms.
Patient education: Acid reflux and GERD in children and teens (The Basics)
Patient education: Gastroesophageal reflux disease in children and adolescents (Beyond the Basics)
