P78.8-9
DESCRIPTION
Gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) is the passive regurgitation of gastric content into the oesophagus. It may be a normal physiological phenomenon in infants, children and adults. Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is when GOR results in abnormal or pathological complications.
Symptoms
Frequent positing/regurgitation of small amounts of milk/food.
GENERAL MEASURES
In the absence of referral criteria (features of GORD), no medicine treatment is required. Counselling and non-medicinal measures are suggested:
- Explain that GOR is common and resolves in the majority of children by the age of 12–18 months.
- Upright positioning after feeds.
REFERRAL
- Failure to thrive (growth faltering).
- Abnormal posturing with opisthotonus or torticollis (Sandifer’s syndrome).
- Respiratory symptoms, i.e. recurrent wheeze or cough, chronic obstructive airway disease, recurrent aspiration/pneumonia, stridor, apnoea and apparent life-threatening events.