Doença do refluxo gastroesofágico em crianças: perfil clínico-epidemiológico e dados de pHmetria de 24 horas em crianças de Belém do Pará

Abstract

Introduction: The gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is very common in children, representing an important damage to their health. It represents cost either financial or emotional to children’s family, and to children themselves. Aim: To study gastroesophageal bearer tool’s clinical and epidemiologic profile. Method: It was realized a retrospective and transversal study about 44 children, both sexs (18 female, 26 male), aging between zero and 24 months age, with clinical suspect of GERD, submitted to 24 hours pHmetry, at the period between 2001 and 2006. The data was obtained with clinical interview, index review and pHmetry results, and was analized by the softwares Epi Info (version 3.2.2) and Biostat (version 2.0) and were submitted to the statistic test of chi-square. A p value lower than 0,05 was adopted for statistic meaning. Results: It was founded a predominance of male (59,9%). The age predominant was seven to 12 months (34,09%). The most frequent complaint was vomit (31,48 %), followed by recurrent pneumonia (22,22%). It was noted the prevalence of mixing pathological reflux at 24 hours pHmetry (47,73%), changing or lower esophageal sphincter relaxing (65,91%) and changing of diurnal and nocturnal clearance (43,18%). Half pacients had symptoms correlated with reflux episodes noted at pHmetry. The clinical treatment was applied in major of patient (95%), with or withour surgical treatment. The most important surgical proceadure was Nissen’s fundoplication. Conclusion: The pediatric population with GERD had clinical profile different of the adults, presentin mecanical troubles at the pathological process. It was observed improvement of the symptoms with children maturity