4 year old diagnosed w/ GERD

My 4 year old daughter was just daignosed with GERD after an endscopy revealed she had chronic esophagitis. I will get the full dr.s report on Monday, but my question is this... My daughet has never spit up, vomited, etc, but she suffers from chronic diarrhea. She always complains of "belly hurts" and has foul smelling stool/ diarrhea everyday. She just had testing for Celiac, Cystic Fibrosis and hyperthyroidism and thank goodness, it's all negative. So what's causing the diarrhea? Is it the GERD?  I can't find anything anywhere linking GERD and diarrhea. She also eats a ton of (healthy) food, but is not gaining any weight. No fast food, nothing friend, just healthy. She has been off of casein (milk) for about 4 months. Help would be much appreciated!

[Ratnakar Kini, MD]

Hi picnicki,
You have mentioned that your daughter is-
1. Not gaining weight
2. Passing foul smelling loose stools everyday
3. Having abdominal pain

All these symptoms are suggestive of Malabsorption. (Malabsorption can be due to umpteen number of causes).

Your daughter might need -
1. Small intestinal biopsy
2. Barium meal series test
3. Colonoscopy
4. Stool examination.
Consult your gastro regarding investigations and management.
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The information provided is for patients’ education only and is not a medical advice. Always consult your personal physician for complete evaluation of your health problem.

- Ratnakar Kini M.D.

[workingmother]

Has she been tested for Crohn's disease? Some of the symptoms that you are describing are linked to that disease. I would look it up, and if your daughter's symptoms match, then ask you doctor about it.