FREQUENCY OF RELAPSES OF GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE IN SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN

Abstract

Introduction Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common diseases of the upper 
gastrointestinal tract. The prevalence of the disease varies and, depending on the region of the world, and in children and 
adolescents can be from 11.6% to 32.9%. Currently, there is insufficient data on the frequency and nature of relapses in 
school-age children with endoscopically positive GERD.  
Aim. To determine the frequency and nature of relapses of endoscopically positive gastroesophageal reflux disease in 
school-age children. 
Materials and methods. The study included 52 school-age children, average age - 11.7±2.3, including 45 boys, 7 girls, 
all patients were initially diagnosed with endoscopically positive gastroesophageal reflux disease and received a course of 
therapy with proton pump inhibitors at a dose of 1 mg / kg of weight for a duration of 4 to 8 weeks. All patients had relief of 
clinical symptoms of the disease at the end of therapy. A follow-up examination was carried out when clinical signs of 
exacerbation occurred. The dynamics of clinical symptoms and the state of the esophagus were assessed according to 
endoscopic examination data. The analysis of the significance of differences in qualitative features was carried out using the 
χ2 criterion. Differences at p < 0.05 were considered significant. 
Results. Endoscopically positive (erosive) form of gastroesophageal reflux disease in school-age children has a chronic 
relapsing course. Annually, clinical signs of exacerbation occur in about half of the children (from 44.2% to 59.6%). The main 
clinical symptoms of exacerbation are abdominal pain and heartburn.  
Conclusion. Endoscopic signs of exacerbation of erosive esophagitis in patients with clinical signs of exacerbation are 
detected after 6-12 months in 35.4% of cases, after 12-24 months in 36.0% of cases and with observation for more than 24 
months in 52.1% of cases. No significant dynamics of the degree of erosive changes when assessed according to the Los
Angeles classification were revealed during the observation period.