Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

What is GERD?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also called acid reflux, occurs when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus. Most children will outgrow reflux, but if children continue to spit up after one year or if they have particularly severe symptoms, treatment may be necessary. In infants, GERD can cause outbursts or crying after eating, and in older children, it can cause heartburn, chest pain, weight loss, a refusal to eat, and wet burps.

Stanford Medicine Children’s Health offers a full range of advanced diagnostic tests to pinpoint the cause of GERD in your child. Our care team is made up of doctors and experts at the forefront of research in the field, and our expertise and testing capabilities are unmatched by other health care centers in the San Francisco Bay Area. Our goal is to use the latest minimally invasive treatment techniques to help you and your child manage the condition, prevent further symptoms or complications, and achieve greater health and wellness.