[Feeding disorders in children with gastro-esophageal reflux disease].
BACKGROUND
feeding/eating disorders are frequent in pediatric patients and, in some cases, can be associated to an upper digestive motility disorder. Gastro-esophageal reflux is, nowadays, considered a risk factor for the development of feeding/eating disorders.


OBJECTIVE
to verify the occurrence of feeding/eating disorders in patients with Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) determined by the 24-H esophageal pH monitoring evaluation.


METHODS
an analytical observational cross-sectional study of the stomathognatic system and feeding/eating behavior in healthy children and in children with GERD.


RESULTS
25 children (ages 45,68 +/- 34,22 months; mean +/- SD) with the diagnosis of GERD determined by the 24-H esophageal pH monitoring evaluation and 40 children (ages 60,65 + 36,07 months; mean + SD) randomized from their school group. The criteria for the pH monitoring were: vomiting, regurgitation, wheezing and recurrent pneumonia. There was no significant difference in age mean between groups. Children with GERD presented an significantly higher frequency (p<0.05) of feeding/eating problems (F/EP) and of oral motor-sensory disturbances (sucking, chewing and swallowing). Behavioral F/EP was present in 44% of the cases and oral motor-sensory F/EP in 80%. About 64% of the children had a history of feeding/eating complaints, 36% presented an extended feeding/eating time, 68% presented problems in the development of the oral feeding patterns and 60% presented alterations in the nasal breathing pattern.


CONCLUSIONS
children with GERD presented a higher prevalence of behavioral and stomathognatic feeding/eating problems when compared to healthy children.
Drent
Larissa Vieira
LV
Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas. lvdrent@yahoo.com.br
Pinto
Elizete Aparecida Lornazi da Costa
EA
D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D050782:Esophageal pH Monitoring; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D013284:Stomatognathic System / Q000503:physiopathology; D013391:Sucking Behavior / Q000502:physiology