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Gastroesophageal reflux in infants with food allergy

B Kamer1, A Chilarski, A Lange

  • 12nd Department of Pediatrics, 2nd Division of Pediatric Clinic, Institude: Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital, ul. Rzgowska 281/289, 93-338 Łódź, Poland. kamer@polbox.com

Medical Science Monitor : International Medical Journal of Experimental and Clinical Research
|February 24, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is common in children with food allergies. Secondary GER, linked to allergies, responded better to treatment than primary GER, suggesting a connection between food allergy and reflux.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Allergology
  • Clinical Nutrition

Background:

  • Food allergy is a significant health concern in infants and young children.
  • Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is a common condition in infants, with potential overlap with other gastrointestinal disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in children diagnosed with food allergy.
  • To compare the effectiveness of conservative treatment for primary GER versus secondary GER associated with food allergy.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 58 children aged 4-36 months with diagnosed food allergy was studied.
  • Esophageal 24-hour pH-metric studies were conducted to diagnose and characterize GER.
  • Treatment outcomes for conservative management and surgical intervention (Nissen fundoplication) were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • 46.5% of children with food allergy exhibited GER, with 14 cases identified as secondary GER linked to allergy.
  • Conservative treatment was less effective in children with primary GER (23.1% ineffectiveness) compared to those with secondary GER and food allergy (7.1% ineffectiveness).
  • Surgical intervention (Nissen fundoplication) was performed in 4 infants.

Conclusions:

  • A significant portion of children with food allergy experience GER, with a notable subset presenting with secondary GER.
  • Secondary GER associated with food allergy appears more responsive to conservative treatment than primary GER.
  • The findings highlight the importance of considering GER in the diagnostic workup of children with food allergies and vice versa.

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