Idiopathic chest pain in children: Is it gastroesophageal reflux disease?

Çetin M.; Yurttaş Ö.; Gözkeser E.; Coşkun Ş.; Kasirga E.

Idiopathic chest pain in children: Is it gastroesophageal reflux disease?

Date

2016

Authors

Publisher

OrtadogÂ u Reklam Tanitim Yayincilik Turizm Egitim Insaat Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S.

Abstract

Objective: Causes of chest pain in children, rarely due to cardiac disease and usually described as idiopathic, account for 20% to 45% of all cases. In this study, we investigated the frequency of gastroesophageal reflux in children with noncardiac chest pain and the characteristics of the pain. Material and Methods: Children with at least two episodes per month of chest pain for a maximum of six months were enrolled in the study. After diagnostic evaluation excluded a cardiac source of chest pain, all patients underwent 24-hour pH monitoring. Characteristics of chest pain and other symptoms were recorded daily by the patients or their parents using the symptom diary. Lansoprazole treatment was administered to patients diagnosed as having gastroesophageal reflux disease. Then, the results of the lansoprazole treatment were evaluated on the basis of the presence of chest pain and other symptoms at the second month after the completion of therapy. Results: Thirty-one children (17 boys and 14 girls) aged between eight and 18 years (11.6±2.4 years) with the primary complaint of chest pain were studied. Based on the 24-hour pH monitoring test results, eight patients (25.8%) for distal sensor and six patients (19.4%) for proximal sensor were defined as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)-positive. No significant difference was noted for characteristics of chest pain and other symptoms between the GERD-positive and GERD-negative groups. All GERD-positive children became symptom-free after the two-month lansoprazole therapy. Conclusion: The symptoms of GERD-induced chest pain are often non-specific, and can be determined with certainty only by 24-hour pH monitoring, so 24-hour pH monitoring may proposed to all children with idiopathic chest pain. Copyright © 2016 by Tür ki ye Kli nik le ri.