Gastroesophageal Reflux-Associated Recurrent Pneumonia and Chronic Asthma in Children

Abstract

Of 82 patients with recurrent pneumonias and/or clinical asthma, 40 were found to have gastroesophageal reflux (GER) by the criteria of 2 or more of 5 tests positive for GER. Of 36 patients with GER followed for response to therapy, 32 patients attempted medical therapy and 4 had fundoplications. Of 32 patients on medical therapy, 10 (31%) had improvement in symptoms but none became asymptomatic. Twenty patients who failed a trial of medical therapy also had fundoplications, for 24 patients surgically treated. Of these, 22 (92%) had improvement or became asymptomatic. All 7 patients with diagnosed GER and recurrent pneumonias responded to medical antireflux management or fundoplication. GER is an important treatable cause of recurrent pneumonias and/or chronic asthma in children.