title: The relationship between gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and asthma during childhood.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The relationship between GERD and asthma is complex. It is not yet clear whether GERD is an accompanying finding or a cause of asthma, or even if it is an aggravating factor. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of asthma and allergic diseases in patients who underwent 24-h pH monitoring for a suspicion of GERD, including a comparison between subjects with and without GERD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects who were evaluated by 24h ambulatory intraoesophageal pH monitoring were investigated for the presence of asthma and allergic disorders. All participants were subjected to a skin prick test and a complete blood count and serum levels of specific IgE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 204 subjects (49.5% male) with a mean age of 7.8±4.3 years were enrolled. A diagnosis of GERD was made in 78 (38.2%) subjects after 24h pH monitoring. The frequency of asthma in subjects with GERD was 20.5% compared to 25.4% in subjects without GERD (p=0.424). Subjects with GERD presenting with respiratory symptoms have higher incidence of asthma compared to subjects with GERD presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms (35.3% and 5.3% respectively; p=0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although, patients with and without GERD had comparable frequencies of asthma, our findings suggest that subjects who present with respiratory symptoms suggestive of GERD should also be evaluated for the presence of an underlying asthma.
authors.affiliation: Ankara Children's Hematology Oncology Education and Research Hospital, Department of Pediatric Allergy, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ozcan
authors.affiliation: Ankara Children's Hematology Oncology Education and Research Hospital, Department of Pediatric Allergy, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erkoçoğlu
authors.affiliation: Ankara Children's Hematology Oncology Education and Research Hospital, Department of Pediatric Allergy, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Civelek
authors.affiliation: Ankara Children's Hematology Oncology Education and Research Hospital, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Demirkan
authors.affiliation: Ankara Children's Hematology Oncology Education and Research Hospital, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Kırsaçlıoğlu
authors.affiliation: Ankara Children's Hematology Oncology Education and Research Hospital, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Tiryaki
authors.affiliation: Ankara Children's Hematology Oncology Education and Research Hospital, Department of Pediatric Allergy, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Giniş
authors.affiliation: Ankara Children's Hematology Oncology Education and Research Hospital, Department of Pediatric Allergy, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: cankocabas@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Kocabaş
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012882:Skin Tests