Increased gastroesophageal reflux in infants: can history provide an explanation?

Authors
Citation
Cw. Callahan, Increased gastroesophageal reflux in infants: can history provide an explanation?, ACT PAEDIAT, 87(12), 1998, pp. 1219-1223
Citations number
47
Categorie Soggetti
Pediatrics,"Medical Research General Topics
Journal title
ACTA PAEDIATRICA
ISSN journal
08035253 → ACNP
Volume
87
Issue
12
Year of publication
1998
Pages
1219 - 1223
Database
ISI
SICI code
0803-5253(199812)87:12<1219:IGRIIC>2.0.ZU;2-4
Abstract
Gastroesophageal reflux (GER), a problem rarely mentioned half a century ag o, has now become a major source of blame for a number of pediatric maladie s. Over the past few decades, the rate of GER diagnosis in hospitalized inf ants less than 1 y old rose more than 10-fold. An increased rate of diagnos is does not mean that GER disease is more common. The increase in diagnosis may be the result of overdiagnosis, inappropriate diagnosis or an increase d ability to detect GER. However, it is also possible that increased GER di agnosis may reflect a real increase in the prevalence of pathological GER a nd GER disease. Three aspects of infant rearing have changed dramatically d uring the past 50 y: what infants are fed, how much they are fed and where they are placed between feedings. This essay examines these aspects of infa nt rearing and their possible relationship with increased GER.