Are Infant Reflux Drugs Worth the Risks?

GERD or Gastroesophageal reflux disease refers to the process of partially digested food or liquid traveling back up from the stomach to the esophagus. The material, generally acidic, tends to make the esophagus irritable and cause heartburn and/or other symptoms. We hence try and assess the following infographic’s effectiveness in explaining whether infant reflux drugs are worth the risks for babies facing GERD.

The infographic is constructed with what is seen as a 50-50 dispersion of written information and visual matter. In most infographics, it is advisable to have a heavier skew for the latter. The page starts off with a paragraph, which is quite uncommon for most infographics. Steve Krug, a prominent expert on website user experience says in his book that what most users actually do is scan some of the text and simply glance at each new page. In terms of these technicalities, the infographic is not on course with Krugs inferences.

However, what this infographic does is provide quality information for the relevant target group – parents. I m sure they must sincerely appreciate the details provided here. The term GERD is very well explained here with a detailed definition and image of the esophagus provided too. Two diagnosis of GERD are mentioned – spitting up and crying which are normal behaviours for most infants. The reliability of information is worth mentioning here, renowned Doctors in the field have supported these diagnoses with academic views on the same.

The infographic since its inception has turned out to be not only a great source of information, but also a fantastic way to dispel misinformation. This holds true here also. It tells parents quite emphatically not to assume the PPI and H2 blockers are best for children as less than 10% infants who receive it have had any sort of diagnostic testing done. Again, the information is well supported from the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. Parents often assume that heavily advertised reflux drugs are suitable for spitting and crying in infants. This is a common misconception, which the info graphic points it in a nicely defined and sectioned blue box. There are more stats to support this spurt in reflux drugs to children. Another blue box proves that these drugs have no better results than placing a placebo for children with reflux.

Finally, the infographic is a culmination of the effects these trends and behaviours of parents that have been observed.  The most striking and intelligent aspect of this infographic is the representation of the baby. The baby image, somewhat hapless and cranky, draws the attention of the parent to the details immediately. Be it the diagnosed behaviour or the side effects mentioned in the final section, this baby is a symbolic image that strikes an immediate chord with each and every concerned parent. By adopting this style, the infographic succeeds in catching the required TG’s attention and does its job. However as a general user, I may not be totally wowed by this piece. An infographic by the team at Colic Calm.

Are Infant Reflux Drugs Worth the Risks?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *