Severe non-obstructive sleep disturbance as an initial presentation of gastroesophageal reflux disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease in children with chronic otitis media with effusion

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to evaluate a possible relation between gastroesophageal reflux disease and middle ear effusion in children.

METHODS

Children who came to ear, nose, and throat (ENT) department with the symptoms of hearing loss or aural fullness and diagnosed as OME by examination and tympanometry were included into the study. Children were reviewed gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms including the following: (a) airway symptoms: stridor, frequent cough, recurrent croup, wheezing, nasal congestion, obstructive apnea, hoarseness, and throat clearing; (b) feeding symptoms: frequent emesis, dysphagia, choking: gagging, sore throat, halitosis, food refusal, regurgitation, pyrosis, irritability, failure to thrive, and anemia. Diagnosis is made with at least one positive test of radionuclide gastroesophageal scintigraphy or 24 h pH probe in the patients with reflux. ENT findings were also examined between gastroesophageal reflux disease positive and gastroesophageal reflux disease negative groups.

RESULTS

Approximately 39 (54.9%) of 71 children had at least 1 positive test for gastroesophageal reflux disease. Between the gastroesophageal reflux disease-positive and gastroesophageal reflux disease-negative groups, symptoms of reflux were not significantly different. Two pooled variables were created: airway complex (stridor, frequent cough, throat clearing), and feeding complex (irritability, pyrosis, failure to thrive). Percentage of positive symptom complexes were no statistically different between gastroesophageal reflux disease-positive and gastroesophageal reflux disease-negative groups (>0.05). Ear, nose, and throat disorders (including rhinitis/sinusitis, adenoid hypertrophy, tonsillitis/pharyngitis, and laryngitis) were more frequent in gastroesophageal reflux disease-positive group. Tonsillitis/pharyngitis was significantly different between the gastroesophageal reflux disease positive and gastroesophageal reflux disease-negative groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Upper respiratory tract infections were seen more frequently in gastroesophageal reflux disease positive group. Children who present with gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms are more likely to have a positive gastroesophageal reflux disease test. However, no concordance may be found between the complaints and gastroesophageal reflux disease findings. For this reason, a decision about gastroesophageal reflux disease should not only be made by looking to complaints; diagnostic tests must also be performed.

Extraesophageal reflux in children

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To summarize and contextualize current concepts in the incidence, diagnosis, management and long-term sequelae of extraesophageal reflux disease in children.

RECENT FINDINGS

Extraesophageal reflux disease is a different disease entity from gastroesophageal reflux disease. The two diseases have a common etiology, refluxate causing mucosal damage, but the extent and location of the damage varies considerably depending on the underlying mucosal characteristics. Extraesophageal reflux disease in children is characterized by a broad set of symptoms and signs that vary according to age at presentation and severity of disease. Serious long-term effects begin in childhood. The role of pepsin, bile acids, pancreatic enzymes, motility disorders, and food allergies have only recently been recognized. Newer diagnostic modalities include multichannel intraluminal pH/impedance, the 48 h Bravo implantable probe, and hypopharyngeal pH monitoring. While proton pump inhibitors provide superior acid suppression compared with histamine-2 blockers, variability in response and lack of efficacy for alkaline refluxate often require other therapeutic interventions.

SUMMARY

Pediatric extraesophageal reflux disease has variable presentation and a gold standard test is still lacking. Primary treatment includes lifestyle and feeding changes and medical therapy. Ongoing monitoring for recurrence and agreement as to duration of therapy present significant challenges not yet standardized amongst practitioners.

Trastorno por déficit de atención con hiperactividad y alteraciones del sueño

The attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is an heterogeneous, complex and common childhood disorder that causes significant impairment of child's functioning. This paper reviews the epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis, comorbidity, course and treatment of ADHD. Special attention is paid to sleep problems both because these 2 conditions frequently co-exist and because there is substantial evidence that ADHD psychopathology and sleep-wake regulation share common neurobiologic mechanisms. Moreover, there could be an overlap between symptoms of ADHD and certain sleep problems such as obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, restless leg syndrome and periodic limb movements of sleep. Children undergoing evaluation for ADHD should be systematically assessed for sleep disturbances because treatment of sleep disorders is often associated with improved symptomatology and decreased need for stimulants.

Clinical presentation as a guide to the identification of GERD in children

OBJECTIVE

to determine if there is a correlation between common otolaryngologic symptoms and presence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in children.

METHODS

charts of 295 children presenting with suspicion of GERD were reviewed for presenting symptoms including: (1) airway symptoms: stertor, stridor, frequent cough, recurrent croup, wheezing, nasal congestion, obstructive apnea, blue spells, hoarseness, throat clearing; (2) feeding symptoms: wet burps, globus sensation, frequent emesis, dysphagia, choking/gagging, sore throat, halitosis, food refusal, stomach aches, arching, drooling, chest pain, irritability, and failure to thrive. At least one positive test of barium esophagram, gastric scintiscan, pH probe or esophageal biopsy resulted in inclusion in the GERD positive group.

RESULTS

214 children had GERD diagnosed while 81 had no positive tests for GERD. Between the GERD positive and GERD negative groups, the significantly different symptoms were stertor (P=0.040), cyanotic spells (P=0.043), frequent emesis (P=0.007), failure to thrive (P=0.006), and choking/gagging (P=0.044). Three pooled variables were created: airway flow (stertor, stridor, cyanotic spells), airway irritation (frequent cough, recurrent croup, throat clearing), and feeding (dysphagia, failure to thrive, frequent emesis). GERD patients who were 2 years or less were compared to those older than 2 years and all three of these pooled variables were significantly different between these groups (P<0. 001).

CONCLUSION

children who present with a certain constellation of airway or feeding symptoms are more likely to have a positive GERD test. Children 2 years old or less are more likely to present with airway symptoms or feeding difficulties while children older than 2 years are more likely to present with airway irritation.