What is gastroesophageal reflux?

Also known as: GER, GE reflux

When digestive acids from the stomach back up or reflux back up the food pipe (esophagus) causing heartburn (acid reflux) it's called gastroesophageal reflux.

Reflux commonly occurs in healthy infants and children. Recurrent heartburn can irritate the food pipe, this complications of reflux is called gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD.

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Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf, MD, FAAP

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM