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Managing gastro-oesophageal reflux in infants

    Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin
    |December 17, 2009
    PubMed

    Insights

    Gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) is common in infants and usually harmless. Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) requires treatment, but is often overdiagnosed, leading to unnecessary medication use in infants.

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatrics
    • Gastroenterology

    Background:

    • Gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) involves stomach contents passing into the oesophagus.
    • GOR is common and typically self-limiting in infants, presenting as regurgitation or vomiting.
    • Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is defined by troublesome symptoms or complications from reflux.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To review GORD in infants aged 0-12 months.
    • To discuss available treatments for infant GORD.
    • To clarify when GORD treatment is necessary.

    Main Methods:

    • Literature review of GORD in infancy.
    • Analysis of diagnostic criteria for GORD.
    • Evaluation of current treatment guidelines and drug licensing for infant GORD.

    Main Results:

    • GORD is frequently misdiagnosed in healthy infants with physiological GOR.
    • This misdiagnosis leads to increased and potentially inappropriate use of acid-reducing medications.
    • Few medications for infant GORD are licensed for this specific indication.

    Conclusions:

    • Distinguishing physiological GOR from GORD is crucial in infants.
    • Overdiagnosis and subsequent medication use for GORD in infants should be minimized.
    • Appropriate treatment decisions for infant GORD require careful consideration of symptoms and complications.

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