Heartburn is common in adults, especially after a full or spicy meal. However, infants and children can also have symptoms of burning in the chest. According to some studies, about 2% of children 3 to 9 years old and 5% of children aged 10 to 17 years have heartburn. Symptoms can even begin in infancy.

Heartburn and heart attack can be difficult to tell apart when they both present symptoms of chest pain. Heartburn is often caused by stomach acid backing up into the esophagus, while many different heart conditions can cause chest pain. Therefore, it is important to distinguish these two diseases for timely and correct treatment.