Prevalence of symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux during childhood - A pediatric practice-based survey

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of symptoms associated with gastroe sophageal reflux (GER) in 3- to 17-year-old children, to describe the preva lence of factors associated with GER in these children, and to determine th e percentage of symptomatic children who have been treated. Design: A cross-sectional survey. Setting: Sixteen pediatric practice research group practices in the Chicago , Ill, area (urban, suburban, and semirural). Participants: A total of 566 parents of 3- to 9-year-old children, 584 pare nts of 10- to 17-year-old children, and 615 children aged 10 to 17 years. Intervention: None. Main Outcome Measure: Reported frequency of symptoms associated with GER. Results: Parents of 3- to 9-year-old children reported that their children experienced a sensation of heartburn ("burning/painful feeling in middle of chest''), epigastric pain ("stomachache above belly button"), and regurgit ation ("sour taste or taste of throw up") 1.8%, 7.2%, and 2.3% of the time, respectively. Parents of 10- to 17-year-old children reported that their c hildren experienced the same symptoms 3.5%, 3.0%, and 1.4% of the time, whi le children aged 10 to 17 years reported the symptoms 5.2%, 5.0%, and 8.2% of the time, respectively. Complaints of abdominal pain ("stomachache") wer e most common, reported by 23.9% and 14.7% of parents of 3- to 9-year-old a nd 10- to 17-year-old children and by 27.9%;, of children aged 10 to 17 yea rs. In those aged 10 to 17 years, heartburn reported by the children was as sociated with reported cigarette use (odds ratio, 6.5, 95% confidence inter val, 2-21); no other complaint was associated with cigarette, alcohol, or c affeine consumption or passive smoking exposure. In 3- to 9-year-old childr en, no complaint was associated with caffeine consumption or passive smokin g exposure. Reported treatment in the past week with antacids was 0.5% acco rding to parents of children aged 3 to 9 years and 1.9% and 2.3% according to parents of children aged 10 to 17 years and children aged 10 to 17 years , respectively. Treatment with over-the-counter histamine receptor blockers was 0% for children aged 3 to 9 years and 10 to 17 years, as reported by t heir parents, and 1.3% for those aged 10 to 17 years, as reported by themse lves. Conclusions: Symptoms suggestive of GER are not rare in childhood, yet only a fraction of children with symptoms are treated with over-the-counter ant acids or histamine(2) antagonists. Prospective longitudinal data are needed to determine which children with symptoms of GER actually have GER disease and are at risk of developing complications.