Which symptom is typical of infant gastroesophageal reflux?

• A. Spitting up or regurgitation after feeds
• B. Diarrhea with dehydration
• C. Projectile vomiting with blood
• D. Persistent coughing unrelated to meals

Answer: (A)

Infant gastroesophageal reflux most often shows up as spitting up or regurgitation after feeds. This happens because the lower esophageal sphincter in young babies isn’t fully mature, so small amounts of milk can move back up into the esophagus after feeding, especially when the baby is laid down. This mild regurgitation is common and usually not painful, typically peaking in the first few months and improving as the infant grows. Other patterns like diarrhea with dehydration suggest a GI illness rather than reflux; projectile vomiting with blood points to more serious issues such as obstruction or esophagitis; persistent coughing can occur with reflux but is not the hallmark symptom. So the after-feeding spit-up/regurgitation best fits infant reflux.