Recognizing atypical manifestations of GERD. Asthma, chest pain, and otolaryngologic disorders may be due to reflux.

The presence of common symptoms, such as heartburn and regurgitation, usually make the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) fairly straightforward. However, extraesophageal symptoms of GERD, such as asthma, noncardiac chest pain, and hoarseness, are often not recognized and therefore are poorly managed. This article sheds light on the atypical manifestations of GERD as well as current approaches to diagnosis and treatment.