Acid reflux med approved for kids

GERD, or gastroesophogeal reflux disease, affects 5%-7% of the population. In a nutshell, for people with GERD, the muscles where the esophagus and stomach meet don't function properly. Instead of blocking the reflux of stomach acids back into the esophagus, the muscle waves it through like the green flag at the start of a car race. Saying GERD is an uncomfortable condition would be an understatement. It results in chronic heartburn with side orders of belching, excess saliva, sore throat, and wearing down of tooth enamel (just to name a few symptoms).

Kids aren't immune from GERD. Nexium, a commonly prescribed medication for the condition, is now approved for short-term use in children ages 1-11. (The drug was already given the OK for kids 12-17.) The dosage is cut in half for the younger kids and is available in both liquid and capsule form. Nexium, manufactured by AstraZeneca, reduces the amount of acid produced in the stomach and helps to heal the lining of the esophagus.