Frequency of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Children with Persistent Cough and Wheezing

GERD in Children with Persistent Cough and Wheeze

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in children with persistent cough and wheezing. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Settings: Department of Pediatric Medicine, Children's Hospital & The Institute of Child Health, Multan Pakistan. Duration: Six-months from 1st December 2023 to 31st May 2024. Methods: A total of 113 children aged 6 months to 12 years of either gender presenting with persistent cough and/or wheeze were consecutively enrolled. Children with developmental delay, congenital heart disease, or other congenital malformations were excluded. GERD was diagnosed on barium swallow study if any one or more of the following findings were present: reflux of gastric contents into the lower esophagus, hiatal hernia, signs of reflux esophagitis, or impaired gastric motility. Descriptive statistics in the form of mean ± SD for numerical and frequency and percentages were calculated for qualitative data. Confounding was assessed through stratification using a chi-square test at a 5% significance level. Results: The study enrolled children with a mean age of 3.9±1.8 years, 69% male, a mean BMI of 17.1±0.7 kg/m², and a mean illness duration of 3.3±0.6 weeks. GERD was diagnosed in 45.1% of cases, with significantly higher prevalence among premature children (82.5% vs. 24.7%, p <0.001) and those with positive family history of atopy (71.4% vs. 29.6%, p < 0.001). Conclusion: GERD is a common finding in children presenting with persistent cough and wheeze. The condition is notably more prevalent in children born prematurely and with a family history of atopy.