Health Warning for Premature Infants With Reflux Disease

While cruising the net for pertinent health information today, I came across a page regarding preemies and Reflux Disease. Over the counter (OTC) medications that treat reflux disease can cause death in premature infants.

New reseach suggests drugs known as H2 (histamine) blockers, are commonly given to premature infants to treat acid reflux, which may increase their risk for a potentially fatal bowel infection called necrotizing enterocolitis.

"This study strongly suggests that the common practice of prescribing H2 blockers to prevent or treat acid reflux in premature infants be discontinued, until more evidence on the safety of this practice becomes available," Dr. Elias A. Zerhouni, director of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, said in a prepared statement.

H2 blockers include OTC products such as Axid, Pepcid, Tagamet and Zantac, inhibit the production of stomach acid.

With necrotizing enterocolitis tissue lining the wall of the intestines dies and any surviving tissue becomes swollen and inflamed. The digestive tract becomes unable to digest food.

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Nursing Tip of the Week:

While H2 blockers may cause this fatal disease in premature infants, they are very helpful not only for reflux disease in older children and adults, but they're also helpful if a person is bothered by persistent itching.