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Updated: Oct 7, 2026
Simultaneous Laryngopharyngeal and Conventional Esophageal pH Monitoring
Published on: December 14, 2020
Pattern of gastroesophageal reflux in children
M I El-Mouzan1, A M Abdullah, A M Al-Sanie
1Department of Pediatrics, King Saudi University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. elmouzan@ksu.edu.sa
Insights
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is common in Saudi children, with vomiting and respiratory issues as primary symptoms. Underlying conditions like neurological impairment were frequent, impacting treatment response.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Pediatric Health
Background:
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a prevalent global pediatric health concern.
- Limited data exists on GERD patterns specifically within the pediatric population of Saudi Arabia.
- This study addresses the need for localized data on pediatric GERD in Saudi Arabia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and describe the epidemiological and clinical patterns of GERD in children within Saudi Arabia.
- To establish baseline data for GERD in Saudi pediatric patients.
- To compare findings with international GERD literature.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review was conducted on children referred to the Pediatric Gastroenterology Division at King Khaled University Hospital in Riyadh.
- Data collection focused on clinical presentation, underlying conditions, diagnostic findings, and treatment outcomes.
- The study included confirmed cases of GERD in pediatric patients.
Main Results:
- Eighty-five children were diagnosed with GERD, predominantly Saudi nationals (98%) with a male-to-female ratio of 1.6.
- Vomiting (82%) and respiratory issues (38%) were the most common symptoms; neurological impairment was the most frequent underlying condition (41%).
- Peptic esophagitis was observed in 51.5% of patients undergoing endoscopy, with medical therapy showing good response in 72% of otherwise healthy children.
Conclusions:
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a significant health issue among children in Saudi Arabia.
- The observed patterns of GERD in Saudi children align with existing international literature.
- Further prospective, multicenter studies are recommended to validate these findings and deepen the understanding of pediatric GERD in the region.
Objective:
Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a common health problem in children worldwide. There are no published data on this disease in children from Saudi Arabia. The objective of this study is, therefore, to report on the pattern of gastroesophageal reflux disease in Saudi children.
Methods:
Retrospective review of all children referred to the Pediatric Gastroenterology Division at King Khaled University Hospital in Riyadh.
Results:
The diagnosis was confirmed in 85 children, all but 2 were Saudi nationals, and the male to female ratio was 1.6. The median age of onset of symptoms was 10 months, whereas the median age at referral was 20 months. The pattern of clinical presentation indicates that vomiting is the most common presentation occurring in 82% of the children, followed by respiratory disease in 38%. An underlying condition was found in 41% of the children, (35/85) the most common of which was neurological impairment. Peptic esophagitis was present in 51.5% of the children who underwent endoscopy. The median duration of follow up was 6 months. Good response to medical therapy was documented in 72% of normal children and 27% of those with underlying disease. All of the 23 children who had fundoplication in our institution had one or more of the underlying disorders.
Conclusion:
Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a common problem in Saudi children. The overall pattern in this report is similar to descriptions in the literature. Prospective multicenter studies are needed to confirm this pattern and to provide more focused descriptions of other aspects of the disease.
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