Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) refers to manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux, which reduce the quality of the patient`s life and require medical treatment. The daily PH-metry at an early age is indicated to identify the connections between various symptoms (for example, apnea and gastroesophageal reflux), repeated pneumonia in children, increased respiratory tract reactivity, and all patients with esophageal and non-gastroesophageal complaints related with GERD.
Aim. Determine the necessity of 24-hour PH-metry to clarify the diagnosis of GERD in children of early age.
Materials and methods. The study included 172 children at the age from 3 months to 3 years. The research was carried out in 4 stages: a questioning of parents with the help of a reflux-questionnaire, fibro-esophagogastroscopy, molecular-genetic examination, a 24-hour PH-metry of the esophagus. Esophageal reflux was considered as pathological, if the acid exposure exceeded the normative indices in standing and lying positions for more than 95 %
Having taken the study we found out that it is especially important to conduct a 24-hour PH-metry for children with clear cinical manifestations of GERD and resistance to therapy, children whose parents (or the children themselves) have phenotypic signs of connective tissue dysplasia, as well as children with non-gastroesophageal manifestations of GERD. There is a significant difficulty with carrying out this investigation in children under 7 years connected with the methodology of its implementation which limits the possibilities of its fulfilling. We propose the use of a 24-hour PH-metry in children of early age only if it is necessary and at the final stage of diagnosis.