On November 4, 2019, the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, published a case study documenting the resolution of chronic gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and constipation in an infant following chiropractic care.

The study begins by explaining, "Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) or acid reflux is a common occurrence in infancy with up to 65% of infants regurgitating their stomach contents at least once a day at age of 3 to 6 months" Many of these cases are self-correcting by age one. When a child is brought to a medical physician, the typical mode of treatment is some form of anti-GER medication.

In this case, a 2-month-old baby girl was brought to the chiropractor by her parents for chiropractic consultation and possible care. The baby was suffering with severe acid reflux and constipation. Her mother reported that the girl’s problems seemed to begin at birth and were very noticeable when she was one week old. At two weeks old, the baby was taken to a pediatrician who prescribed Prilosec for her acid reflux and Miralax for the constipation.

The acid reflux medication seemed to give some temporary relief; however, the symptoms would get worse with intense spitting up when the medication was stopped. The girl's mother did not give her daughter the constipation medication. The girl’s problems continued to get worse with her not being able to sleep for more than 30 minutes.

The infant’s parents reported that their daughter refused to be held or lay on her back. They indicated that the infant would cry and scream in agony when touched on the back. On examination, it was obvious that the baby was agitated, and in distress. During an attempt to palpate the baby’s spine, the child winced and started crying.

Based upon the chiropractic examination, specific chiropractic care was initiated for correction of subluxations. After the first adjustment visit, the girl’s parents reported that their baby daughter seemed more peaceful and was able to be held while feeding. They also reported that their baby slept through the night continuously for a 6-hour period.

After the third adjustment visit, it was observed that the girl was no longer straining to have a bowel movement and the bowel movements were more regular. By the fifth visit, the parents made the decision that their daughter no longer needed the medication she was on, and with the supervision of the infant’s pediatrician, the girl was taken off her medication. From this point on, the girl did not need medication, only occasionally had a minor spit-up, and was no longer suffering from constipation.

The authors summed up the results of this case study by stating in their conclusion, "This case report provides an educational vehicle and evidence on the successful chiropractic care of infants with a history of medical care for acid reflux."