Gastro-oesophageal reflux in infants: an evidence-based approach.

Gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) is present in most infants, but is usually a benign condition that resolves by the age of 6 to 12 months as the gastrointestinal tract develops. While it lasts, however, reflux symptoms can be very worrying for parents, and community nurses are well placed to provide them with reassurance, support and advice on practical measures that will improve symptoms in most cases. Nurses also have an essential role in monitoring infants for possible progression of symptoms to complicated GOR or gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), and in ensuring that such babies, and those with a possible underlying abnormality, receive appropriate referral for further investigation and medical or surgical treatment.