GER Is Common Among Children with Bronchial Asthma

Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is highly prevalent in children with bronchial asthma, according to a presentation made at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology on November 10, 2003, in New Orleans, La.

Results of the study, conducted by Mittal et al, indicate that prevalence of GER increases with severity of asthma. When bronchial asthma was stratified by severity, the prevalence of GER was 0% in mild intermittent asthma, 11% in mild persistent asthma, 23% in moderate persistent asthma, and 57% in severe persistent asthma.

Only 47% of children with GER had 1 or more symptoms of reflux, indicating that many children with GER are asymptomatic. For more information, visit www.medscape. com/viewarticle/464202.