Results of the gastroesophageal reflux assessment in wheezy children.

Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is implicated in the pathogenesis of respiratory symptoms in childhood. It should be taken into account especially in the differential diagnosis of children presenting with wheezing. Although, oesophageal pH monitorization has been reported to be the best technique in the evaluation of GER, radionuclide studies have also been shown to be very sensitive recently. In this study, 82 children presenting with recurrent wheezing (n = 74) and/or vomiting (n = 28) (mean age 17.4 months; range 3-48 months) were evaluated. GER scintigraphy was performed to determine the frequency of GER. GER was determined in 18 of the 82 cases (21.9%). The GER was found in 21.1% of children with recurrent wheezing and in 16.6% of children suffering from recurrent vomiting. GER scintigraphy should be kept in mind in the evaluation of children with the complaint of recurrent wheezing since it is a noninvasive and easily applicable method.