Question
Six months ago, my child suddenly woke up from sleep due to vomiting, with severe chest pain and difficulty breathing. Initially, I thought it was just an upset stomach, and after burping, I didn’t pay much attention. A week later, I bought medicine from a pharmacy and the situation improved slightly, but the symptoms fluctuated from time to time afterward. When I’m in a bad mood, similar symptoms occur. The main symptoms are vomiting, sometimes unable to bring up anything, feeling acid reflux, a burning sensation in the chest, and occasionally, the smell of vomit is unpleasant, accompanied by chest pain. Recently, after a hospital check-up, the doctor suggested an endoscopy, but I’m worried about the pain during the examination process and would like to ask if there are other methods or if an endoscopy is truly necessary.
Answer
Hello, based on your description, your child’s condition does not seem severe and it should be bile reflux gastritis and esophagitis. With systematic and regular treatment, it should be effectively controlled. The cause of gastritis is usually chronic inflammation stimulation, poor dietary habits, and irregular lifestyle leading to regional barrier damage in the gastric mucosal area, thereby causing symptoms such as bleeding, erosion, and ulcers. Severe cases may develop scar hyperplasia, pyloric stenosis, and esophagitis due to acid reflux caused by stomach acid. About 95% of gastric patients are infected with Helicobacter pylori (HP), and with daily dietary stimulation of stomach acid secretion, the condition is prone to recurrence. Therefore, the key to treatment is to follow a systematic therapeutic regimen and take medication regularly. Recommended medications include omeprazole capsules,…