The Management of Gastro-oesophageal Reflux in Infants

Authors

  • Yousef El-Gohary
  • Andrew Karwowski
  • Gracia Chong
  • Melissa Kern
  • Sara Molloy
  • Boitumelo Pule

Keywords:

medicine

Abstract

Objective: To determine the optimal management of gastro-oesophageal reflux in infants.
Methods: Searches were made on medical databases (Cochrane Library, National Electronic
Library for Health, PubMed). Three randomised control studies, a case control study, an
intervention study and one systematic review were chosen and appraised according to a
critical appraisal checklist. Results: Antacids and feed thickeners were found to be effective
in decreasing the symptoms, but not the gastric acidity associated with gastro-oesophageal
reflux. There was no evidence supporting the use of positioning in decreasing symptoms. No
evidence was found to support the use of pharmacological agents (metoclopramide,
omeprazole) in the treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux. Conclusion: The optimal
management of gastro-oesophageal reflux in infants is parental reassurance and education.
If essential, conservative measures such as feed thickeners and antacids may be employed.

References

1. Martin AJ, Pratt N, Kennedy JD, et al. Natural history
and familial relationships of infant spilling to 9 years of
age. Pediatrics 2002;109:1061-7.
2. Jung A. Gastroesophageal reflux in infants and
children. American Family Physician Dec 1, 2001.
(Accessed at: www.aafp.org/afp/20011201/1853.html)
3. Al-Khawari HA, Sinan TS, Seymour H. Diagnosis of
gastro-oesophageal reflux in children. Comparison
between oesophageal pH and barium examinations.
Pediatr Radiol 2002;32(11):765-70.
4. Bishop W. Gastroesophageal reflux (GER).
Department of Pediatrics: the Vomiting Infant Lecture,
University of Iowa, 2004. (Accessed at:
http://www.vh.org/pediatric/provider/pediatrics/PedsGI
Disease/GER.html)
5. Crombie IK. The pocket guide to critical appraisal: a
handbook for health care professionals. London: BMJ
Publishing Group, 1996.
6. Miller S. Comparison of the efficacy and safety of a
new aluminium-free paediatric alginate preparation and
placebo in infants with recurrent gastro-oesophageal
reflux. Curr Med Res Opin 1999;15:160-8.
7. Tolia V, Calhoun J, and Kuhns L. Randomized,
double-blind trial of metoclopramide and placebo for
gastroesophageal reflux. J Pediatr 1989;115:141-5.
8. Moore D, Tao B, Lines D, Hirte C, Heddle M,
Davidson G. Double-blind placebo-controlled trial of
omeprazole in irritable infants with gastroesophageal
reflux. J Pediatr 2003;143(2):219-23.
9. Penna F, Nortoh R, Carvalh A, et al. Comparison
between pre-thickened and home-thickened formulas in
gastroesophageal reflux treatment. J Pediatr
2003;79(1):49-54.
10. Khoshoo V, Ross G, Brown S, Edell D. Smaller
volume, thickened formulas in the management of
gastroesophageal reflux in thriving infants. J Pediatr
Gastroenterol Nutr 2000;31:554-6.
11. Carroll AE, Garrison MM, Christakis DA. A
systemic review of non-pharmacological and nonsurgical therapies for gastroesophageal reflux in infants.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2002;156(2):109-13.

Downloads

Published

2005-01-01

How to Cite

El-Gohary, Y. ., Karwowski, A. ., Chong, G. ., Kern, M. ., Molloy, S. ., & Pule, B. . (2005). The Management of Gastro-oesophageal Reflux in Infants. Trinity Student Medical Journal , 6(1). Retrieved from https://ojs.tchpc.tcd.ie/index.php/tsmj/article/view/1953

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 1 (2005): Trinity Student Medical Journal

Section

Reviews

License

Authors retain copyright and grant the journal the right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work’s authorship and initial publication in this journal.

Provided they are the owners of the copyright to their work, authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal’s published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository, in a journal or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.