Gastro-oesophageal reflux in children and young people

Quality statements

Statement 1 Parents and carers attending postnatal appointments are given information about gastro‑oesophageal reflux (GOR) in infants.

Statement 2 Breast‑fed infants with frequent regurgitation associated with marked distress have their feeding assessed.

Statement 3 Formula‑fed infants with frequent regurgitation associated with marked distress have their symptoms managed using a stepped-care approach.

Statement 4 Infants with frequent regurgitation associated with marked distress have a trial of alginate therapy if first‑line management is unsuccessful.

Statement 5 Infants and children are not investigated or treated for gastro‑oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) if they have no visible regurgitation and only 1 associated symptom.

Statement 6 Infants and children are not prescribed acid‑suppressing drugs if visible regurgitation is an isolated symptom.

Statement 7 Infants, children and young people do not have an upper gastrointestinal (GI) contrast study to diagnose or assess the severity of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD).

Statement 8 Infants, children and young people are not prescribed domperidone, metoclopramide or erythromycin to manage gastro‑oesophageal reflux (GOR) or gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) without specialist paediatric advice.

Statement 9 Infants, children and young people with vomiting or regurgitation and any 'red flag' symptoms are referred to specialist care with investigations as appropriate.