Gastro-oesophageal reflux in Nigerian newborn infants.

Fourteen cases (7 males and 7 females) of neonatal gastro-oesophageal reflux seen at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital in the period 1977-82 were analysed. They all presented with persistent vomiting from birth; 64% of the infants were small for gestational age (SGA). All infants had plain abdominal and chest radiographs and barium meal examination. Eleven neonates had a major gastro-oesophageal reflux but no case of hiatus hernia, oesophagitis or oesophageal stricture was found. Over 80% of patients responded to conservative treatment. There were two deaths. We recommend that SGA newborns presenting with persistent vomiting in the presence of a normal plain abdominal radiograph should be treated as a case of gastro-oesophageal reflux until proven otherwise.