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Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Simultaneous Laryngopharyngeal and Conventional Esophageal pH Monitoring
Published on: December 14, 2020
[Long-term observation of children with gastro-esophageal reflux disease]
Izabela Jastrzebska1, Krzysztof Fyderek
1Klinika Pediatrii, Gastroenterologii i Zywienia, Uniwersytet Jagielloński Collegium Medicum w Krakowie. dobosz@mp.pl
Insights
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in children over one year old rarely resolves completely. Acid reflux can persist even without noticeable symptoms, indicating a chronic condition.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Clinical Research
Context:
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is common in children, often viewed as transient.
- Understanding GERD's natural history in pediatric populations is crucial for effective management.
- This study investigates the long-term outcomes of GERD in infants and children.
Purpose:
- To assess the natural history and long-term symptom resolution of GERD in pediatric patients.
- To evaluate the persistence of acid reflux in children diagnosed with GERD.
- To compare GERD outcomes across different age groups in children.
Summary:
- A cohort of 163 children diagnosed with GERD underwent follow-up after 3.5 years.
- Symptom resolution rates were significantly higher in infants under 1 year (45%) compared to older children (13.4-14.3%).
- Pathologic acid reflux persisted in 54% of patients, including asymptomatic cases, highlighting the chronic nature of GERD in older children.
Impact:
- GERD symptoms are unlikely to resolve completely in children over one year of age.
- Subclinical acid reflux may persist in pediatric GERD patients.
- Findings suggest GERD may be a more chronic condition in children than previously assumed, necessitating ongoing monitoring.
Introduction:
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is frequent disorder of the gastro-intestinal tract. Although in adults GERD is regarded as a chronic disease, in children it is often considered as a transient disorder.
Aim:
To assess the natural history of GERD in infants and children.
Material And Methods:
We enrolled 163 children (44% girls and 56% boys) with GERD diagnosed on the basis of esophageal symptoms and positive result of 24-hour pH-monitoring (fraction time - fT > 4.2%). The mean age at the time of the diagnosis was 4.5 year. After 3.5 years from the diagnosis, the patients or guardians filled in a custom-made questionnaire evaluating GERD symptoms: heartburn, belching, vomiting, regurgitations, feeding problems, dysphagia, epigastric pain. Control pH-monitoring was performed in 71 of the patients. The patients were divided into three age groups: group I--below 1 year of age (38 children), group II--between 1 and 4 years of age (35 children) and group III--above 4 years of age (90 children).
Results:
GERD symptoms disappeared completely in 45%, 14.3% and 13.4% from group I, II and III, respectively. In 38 (54%) patients the control pH-monitoring revealed pathologic acid reflux, including 4 children without any GERD symptoms.
Conclusions:
The study shows that in children aged above 1 year GERD symptoms are unlikely to subside completely. Moreover, acid gastroesophageal reflux may still be present, despite the absence of the clinical symptoms.
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