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Updated: May 15, 2026
Simultaneous Laryngopharyngeal and Conventional Esophageal pH Monitoring
Published on: December 14, 2020
The relationship between gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and asthma during childhood
C Ozcan1, M Erkoçoğlu1, E Civelek1
1Ankara Children's Hematology Oncology Education and Research Hospital, Department of Pediatric Allergy, Ankara, Turkey.
Insights
The link between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and asthma is complex. While overall asthma rates were similar, GERD patients with respiratory symptoms showed a higher asthma incidence, suggesting further evaluation is needed.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Pulmonology
- Allergology
Background:
- The connection between GERD and asthma is intricate, with unclear causal or aggravating roles.
- Investigating GERD's impact on asthma and allergic conditions is crucial for comprehensive patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To ascertain the prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases in pediatric patients undergoing pH monitoring for suspected GERD.
- To compare asthma and allergic disease frequencies between GERD and non-GERD patient groups.
Main Methods:
- 204 pediatric subjects underwent 24-hour ambulatory intraesophageal pH monitoring.
- Asthma and allergic disorders were assessed via skin prick tests, complete blood counts, and specific IgE levels.
Main Results:
- GERD was diagnosed in 38.2% of subjects.
- Asthma prevalence was comparable between GERD (20.5%) and non-GERD (25.4%) groups (p=0.424).
- GERD patients with respiratory symptoms had a significantly higher asthma incidence (35.3%) than those with gastrointestinal symptoms (5.3%; p=0.001).
Conclusions:
- While overall asthma rates did not differ significantly, GERD patients presenting with respiratory symptoms warrant thorough asthma evaluation.
- This highlights the importance of considering asthma in pediatric GERD patients with respiratory complaints.
Background:
The relationship between GERD and asthma is complex. It is not yet clear whether GERD is an accompanying finding or a cause of asthma, or even if it is an aggravating factor. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of asthma and allergic diseases in patients who underwent 24-h pH monitoring for a suspicion of GERD, including a comparison between subjects with and without GERD.
Method:
Subjects who were evaluated by 24h ambulatory intraoesophageal pH monitoring were investigated for the presence of asthma and allergic disorders. All participants were subjected to a skin prick test and a complete blood count and serum levels of specific IgE.
Results:
A total of 204 subjects (49.5% male) with a mean age of 7.8±4.3 years were enrolled. A diagnosis of GERD was made in 78 (38.2%) subjects after 24h pH monitoring. The frequency of asthma in subjects with GERD was 20.5% compared to 25.4% in subjects without GERD (p=0.424). Subjects with GERD presenting with respiratory symptoms have higher incidence of asthma compared to subjects with GERD presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms (35.3% and 5.3% respectively; p=0.001).
Conclusion:
Although, patients with and without GERD had comparable frequencies of asthma, our findings suggest that subjects who present with respiratory symptoms suggestive of GERD should also be evaluated for the presence of an underlying asthma.
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