GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX AND ENT DISORDERS IN CHILDHOOD

Among controversies in pediatric otorhinolaryngology, the role of gast roesophageal reflux (GER) in inflammatory disorders of the upper airwa y remains of major concern. A laryngeal involvement by GER was demonst rated in adults and a correlation with GER has been found in pediatric populations with recurrent croup. However, although considered statis tically significant, these results concern a few patients only and are inconclusive for a causal relationship. In addition, pH monitoring, o ften considered as the gold standard for the diagnosis of GER disease, has failed in giving normal values in ENT disorders. Eventually. uppe r pharyngeal and nasal involvements by GER and GER-related otitis medi a or otalgia have been suggested by some authors. In the 6th Internati onal Congress on Pediatric Otolaryngology, the Symposium on GER was de signed to help physicians in improving their knowledge of the data fro m the literature and their understanding of the involved mechanisms. B earing in mind the potential severity of GER disease, the audience als o heard and debated the most up-to-date methods of assessing GER and t reating it in patients with possibly related otorhinolaryngological sy mptoms. Here is the summary of this symposium.