[Value of pH-metric examination in diagnosing gastroesophageal reflux in children and youth with typical and atypical clinical symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease].

AIM: The aim of work was an estimation of pH-metric examination in diagnosing of gastroesophageal reflux in children with typical and atypical symptoms of the gastroesophageal reflux disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 121 children were analysed with suspected to gastroesophageal reflux disease. Depending on reported ailments they were divided into 2 groups. Group I patients with typical symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease were including: heartburn, rebounding; while the second group consisted of those with atypical symptoms: nausea, vomiting, chest pain, abdominal pain. 24-hour pH-metric examination was performed in each patient. RESULTS: On the basis of pH-metric examination gastroesophageal reflux was diagnosed in 85.2% patients from I group and 44.8% patients from group II. CONCLUSION: The most important examination determining diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux in children with both typical and atypical symptoms of this illness should be pH-metric examination of the esophagus. In children with atypical symptoms in consideration of differential diagnosis we should take into account a possibility of gastroesophageal reflux.