Clinical symptoms of pathological gastroesophageal reflux in infants and children under 6 years of age
Kosmowska, A.
Polski merkuriusz lekarski organ Polskiego Towarzystwa Lekarskiego 25(150): 471-479
2008
ISSN/ISBN: 1426-9686 PMID: 19205376 Document Number: 628250
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).