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Natural History of GER in Infants

Most diagnoses in infants occur before age 5 months, and most symptoms resolve within 12 months.

Few studies have reported on the natural history of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in infants. To examine the prevalence and natural history of infant GER, 59 primary care pediatricians in Italy prospectively assessed consecutive healthy infants (age range, 1–12 months) who presented to their offices during a 3-month period.

Of 2642 infants, 313 (12%) received diagnoses of GER according to standardized criteria. Most (74%) received the diagnosis before age 5 months. Overall, regurgitation resolved in 99% of the 210 children who were followed every 2 months for 2 years, in 27% during the first 6 months of follow-up, in another 61% at 6 to 12 months, and in another 11% at 12 to 18 months. Symptom scores declined to 0 after an average of 8.2 months in breast-fed infants with GER and after 9.6 months in formula-fed infants with GER.

Comment: This practice-based study provides useful data about the prevalence of infant GER and how quickly it resolves (usually within 12 months). The 12% prevalence might be an underestimate because some infants who were enrolled after the age of 6 months could have had infant regurgitation that had already resolved.

— Howard Bauchner, MD

Published in Journal Watch Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine March 11, 2009

Citation(s):

Campanozzi A et al. Prevalence and natural history of gastroesophageal reflux: Pediatric prospective survey. Pediatrics 2009 Mar; 123:779.

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• Medline abstract (Free)

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