Hiatus hernia in infants and children: a long-term follow-up of medical therapy.

The follow-up of 75 patients over a period of 1-12 yr demonstrates that at least 70% of these--if infants--may be permanently free of symptoms, when placed on medical therapy. If an infant becomes free of symptoms under 14 days, it may be expected that medical therapy will be definitely successful. Therefore, it seems to us that every infant ought to be given medical therapy for a period of at least 14 days. Medical therapy does not give rise to stenosis of the esophagus. Hiatus hernia is a diagnosis which should be made at the earlies possible moment. Only on this basis can medical therapy be successful and stenosis of the esophagus may be prevented.