The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics 2015 , Vol 57 , Num 5
Empiric treatment of children with gastroesophageal reflux-like symptoms: Effect of proton pump inhibitors
2Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, 1Department of Pediatrics, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey. E-mail: gbaysoy@hotmail.com Received: 8 April 2015, Revised: 3 June 2015, Accepted: 12 August 2015 Gündüz M, Yamaç P, Baysoy G. Empiric treatment of children with gastroesophageal reflux-like symptoms: Effect of proton pump inhibitors. Turk J Pediatr 2015; 57: 482-486.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is an important cause of morbidity in childhood. Although various diagnostic methods are available, short course of empiric treatment with a proton pump inhibitor is widely used in adults as a diagnostic test. Data about empiric treatment is scarce in children. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of empiric treatment of reflux-like symptoms in children.

Pediatric gastroenterology outpatient files were searched and patients with a diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux were found. Patient complaints, history and the treatments provided were recorded. Treatment naive patients older than 2 years of age with symptoms suggestive of gastroesophageal reflux were selected and included if they were given empiric treatment with a proton pump inhibitor.

Empiric treatment was found to be effective in 78% of patients. Treatment response tended to be better in children older than 5 years of age. Of the 22 non-responders 9 underwent endoscopy and pathological findings were discovered in 7 of them.

Treatment of children with gastroesophageal reflux symptoms with a proton pump inhibitor might significantly decrease the need for extensive evaluations. However it is important to investigate non-responders to empiric therapy, as it seems there might be high probability of pathological findings. Keywords : children, empiric treatment, gastroesophageal reflux, proton pump inhibitor.

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