Kosmowska Agnieszka
Akademia Medyczna we Wrocławiu, II Katedra i Klinika Pediatrii, Gastroenterologii i Zywienia.
Pol Merkur Lekarski. 2008 Dec;25(150):471-9.
Many gastrointestinal, respiratory and general symptoms are connected with pathological gastroesophageal reflux (pGER) in infants and small children.
To assess gastrointestinal, respiratory and general symptoms in infants and children under 6 years of age with pGER depending on age and severity of reflux.
The analysis comprised a group of 143 children aged from 1 to 72 months (68 girls, 75 boys), diagnosed in the Clinic with the suspicion of pGER. There were two age-groups: A: 1-18 months (64 children) and B: 19-72 months (79 children). 24-hour esophageal pH-metry was performed and gastrointestinal, respiratory and general symptoms were assessed in all children. Children with normal pH-metry (without pGER) were in a control group.
pGER was diagnosed in 44 (68.72%) children from group A and in 58 (73.42%) from group B. Regurgitation, vomiting, and anorexia were the most common gastrointestinal symptoms in group A, abdominal pain, vomiting, belching and anorexia--in group B. Predominant respiratory symptoms in group A were: dry cough, some respiratory disturbances, and in group B--dry cough, hoarseness, recurrent bronchitis (the difference was without statistical significance in comparison to control subgroup). Anxiety was a frequent general symptom in group A and salivation, dental erosions in group B. Regurgitation and anemia were more frequent in younger children, anorexia, belching, hoarseness, recurrent laryngitis and bronchitis--in children from some subgroups of group B. Malnutrition was diagnosed significantly more frequent in children from group B with severe reflux.
pGER is a common abnormality in children under 6 years of age. Anorexia was a statistically significant gastrointestinal symptom. Respiratory symptoms were not statistically significant signs of pGER. Anxiety was a significant general symptom in children aged from 1 to 18 months. The number of malnutritioned children increased with the severity of reflux in older children (under 6 years of life).
