Acid reflux

Rifluss ta' aċidu

Stomach acid rising into the gullet, causing burning behind the breastbone and an acid taste.

Also known as: GORD, heartburn

Overview

Reflux is very common and often related to large meals, late eating, weight and smoking.

Ħarsa ġenerali (Maltese)

Ir-rifluss huwa komuni ħafna u spiss marbut ma' ikliet kbar, ikel tard, piż u tipjip.

Symptoms

  • Burning behind the breastbone
  • Acid or bitter taste
  • Worse lying down or after meals
  • Persistent cough or hoarseness
Sintomi (Maltese)
  • Ħruq wara l-għadma tas-sider
  • Togħma ta' aċidu jew morra
  • Agħar mimdud jew wara l-ikel
  • Sogħla persistenti jew ħoss maħnuq

Red flags

  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Unintended weight loss
  • Vomiting blood or black stools
  • New symptoms over age 55
Sinjali ta' twissija (Maltese)
  • Diffikultà biex tibla'
  • Telf ta' piż mhux intenzjonat
  • Tirremetti d-demm jew ippurgar iswed
  • Sintomi ġodda wara l-età ta' 55 sena

Management

  • Smaller meals, avoid eating late
  • Weight loss and stopping smoking
  • Antacids for occasional symptoms
  • Acid-suppressing medicine for persistent symptoms
Immaniġġjar (Maltese)
  • Ikliet iżgħar, evita tiekol tard
  • Tnaqqis ta' piż u twaqqif tat-tipjip
  • Antaċidi għal sintomi okkażjonali
  • Mediċina li trażżan l-aċidu għal sintomi persistenti

What to tell the patient

Try not to eat in the three hours before bed, raise the head of the bed, and cut down on very fatty or spicy meals.

X'tgħid lill-pazjent (Maltese)

Ipprova ma tikolx fit-tliet sigħat ta' qabel torqod, għolli n-naħa tar-ras tas-sodda, u naqqas l-ikliet xaħmija jew ippiċċanti ħafna.

Clinical codes

  • ICD-10 K21 · Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

Educational reference only — not a substitute for clinical judgement, local guidelines or the SPC.