Gastroesophageal reflux disease history and symptoms

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

History and Symptoms

• History taking in patients suspected with GERD is important in diagnostic approach.
• Important history points that increase suspicion towards delayed gastric emptying and GERD include the following:
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Regurgitation

Common symptoms

Common symptoms of GERD include the following:

• Heart burn
• Regurgitation
• Dysphagia

Less common symptoms

Less common symptoms of GERD include the following:

• Chest pain that may look like the angina pectoris pain
• Cough
• Nausea
• Odynophagea

Children

GERD may be difficult to detect in infants and children. Symptoms may vary from typical adult symptoms. GERD in children may cause repeated vomiting, effortless spitting up, coughing, and other respiratory problems. Inconsolable crying, failure to gain adequate weight, refusing food, bad breath, and belching or burping are also common. Children may have one symptom or many — no single symptom is universal in all children with GERD.

It is estimated that of the approximately 8 million babies born in the U.S. each year, up to 35% of them may have difficulties with reflux in the first few months of their life. Most of those children will outgrow their reflux by their first birthday. However, a small but significant number of them will not outgrow the condition.

Babies' immature digestive systems are usually the cause, and most infants stop having acid reflux by the time they reach their first birthday. Some children do not outgrow acid reflux, however, and continue to have it into their teen years. Children that have had heartburn that does not seem to go away, or any other GERD symptoms for a while, should talk to their parents and visit their doctor.