[Predominant respiratory symptoms in indications for prolonged esophageal pH-monitoring in children].
BACKGROUND
An increasing prevalence of extraesophageal complications of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) has been seen. Evaluation of clinical profiles of patients submitted to prolonged esophageal pH monitoring could help to identify the patients who could benefit from the early diagnosis of GER.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the population, indications and results of esophageal pH-monitoring for the diagnosis of GER in a pediatric gastroenterology clinic.


METHODS
Data from 190 children and adolescents who had esophageal pH-monitoring were analyzed. A descriptive analysis of the population was performed and the children were categorized in five groups according to the age. The equipment used was a Digitrapper MKIII (Synetics) and all data were analyzed by using a software EsopHogram 5.7. Reflux index was established for analysis.


RESULTS
The most frequent indications for the exam were: asthma (26.8%), apnea/cyanosis (20%), recurrent pulmonary infections (18.4%), wheezing infant syndrome (15.8%) and chronic cough/horseness (11%). The most frequent groups of age for the respiratory symptoms were: asthma--above 5 years (92.2%); apnea/cyanosis--under 3 months (55.3%); recurrent pulmonary infections and wheezing infant syndrome--3 to 12 months (31.4% and 83.3%). Reflux index of patients with positive exam for GER was significantly higher in patients under 2 years than above 2 years of age.


CONCLUSIONS
Respiratory symptoms were predominant among the indications for esophageal pH-monitoring in children. The knowledge of the clinical profile of the patients who had esophageal pH monitoring could help to improve the technical quality of the exam.
Goldani
Helena Ayako Sueno
HA
Unidade de Gastroenterologia Pediátrica, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS. hegold@uol.com.br
Silveira
Themis Reverbel da
TR
Rocha
Renata
R
Celia
Luciana
L
Dalle Molle
Lucas
L
Barros
Sergio Gabriel Silva de
SG
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000209:etiology*