[Gastroesophageal reflux in children. An overlooked disease].

In a material of 25 patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux (GER), 11 had cerebral damage, 15 had symptoms of oesophagitis and 18 had respiratory problems including here six cases of apnoea with cyanosis and bradycardia resembling near-miss sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Only two of the children recovered acceptably on conservative treatment and the remainder were submitted to operation. Operation had insufficient effect in 30%. Cerebral damage or atresia of the oesophagus were present in all of the patients in whom operation was without effect. All children with symptom-producing GER should first be submitted to conservative treatment for at least three months and operation should be offered in cases where this treatment fails. Children with chronic or recurrent respiratory symptoms without other explanation and all children with episodes of apnoea and near-miss SIDS should be examined for the presence of GER.