Gastroesophageal reflux in infants with persistent/recurrent wheezing – an ultrasonographic study

Otilia Fufezan, Dorin Farcău, Cornel Vălean, Carmen Asăvoaie, Ioana Anca

Abstract


 Literature data suggests an association between gastroesophageal reflux disease and respiratory symptoms as recurrent/persistent wheezing or chronic cough.

Objective. The aim of this study was to appreciate the number of the postprandial GER episodes in healthy infants, in infants with persistent/recurrent wheezing and in infants with vomiting

Methodology. The study group comprised 132 infants with intermittent vomiting or persistent/recurrent wheezing evaluated through ultrasound exam for assessing numbers of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) episodes during a 10 minutes postprandial examination. A control group of healthy infants was examined for assessing the number of postprandial GER episodes detected at ultrasound exam.

Results. Ultrasound exam revealed significant differences between the number of postprandial GER episodes in patients with vomiting compared to patients with recurrent/persistent wheezing or normal infants. There were no differences between the number of postprandial GER episodes in patients with recurrent/persistent wheezing and healthy infants. In conclusion, postprandial GER episodes are more frequent in infants with vomiting compared with healthy infants or those with recurrent/persistent wheezing.


Keywords


gastroesophageal reflux; wheezing; ultrasonography; infant

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