A study of the symptoms of gastro-esophageal reflux disease and associated risk factors among the rural school children of Veleru India

Abstract

A study of the symptoms of gastro-esophageal reflux disease and associated risk factors among the rural school children of Veleru India Background: Prevalence of gastro-esophageal refl ux disease (GERD) in all ages has shown an upward trend over the past decades. The reasons for this increase are ill-understood. The data in the pediatric population is limited. Recent studies have linked childhood GERD to adult GERD. This study was conducted to assess the symptoms, risk factors of GERD among the schoolchildren residing in a rural area. Aims: The aim of this study was to fi nd out the prevalence of GERD risk factors among the school children aged 8-17 years and to fi nd any association between body mass indexes, meal pattern and sleep disturbances related to GERD. Materials and Methods: We did a cross-sectional study on 380 school children of 4 th -10 th standard from 4 schools of Veleru, the Rural Health Center attached to Dr. Pinnamaneni Siddhartha Institute of Medical Sciences. The questionnaire consisted of questions for refl ux symptoms, meal pattern and sleep disturbances. Results: The symptoms of refl ux like abdominal pain was reported in 7%, heartburn in 1.3%, regurgitation in 2.4%, vomiting in 2.9%, diffi culty in swallowing in 2.1%, sore taste in mouth in 0.8% of the children. The risk-factors for refl ux like caffeinated drinks were found in 45.3%, very spicy food in 12.1%, heavy meals in 2.4% of the children. Sleep disturbance was seen in 33.4% of the children. Obesity was present in 0.6% of the children. Conclusion: School children should be informed about the symptoms and risk factors of GERD so that healthy dietary habits can be developed at a young age and GERD can be prevented. Key words:Dietary habits, gastro-esophageal refl ux disease, school children Original Article INTRODUCTIONThe chronic symptoms of gastro-esophageal refl ux disease (GERD) are due to mucosal damage caused by stomach acid coming up from the stomach into the esophagus. GERD is usually caused by changes in the barrier between the stomach and the esophagus, including abnormal relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter which normally holds the top of the stomach closed; impaired expulsion of gastric refl ux from the esophagus or a hiatal hernia. These changes may be permanent or temporary.Every year GERD affects approximately 4.5/1000 persons in the United Kingdom [1] and 5.4/1000 persons in the United States.[2] In Western populations, the prevalence of GERD ranges from 10% to 20%. GERD symptoms occur at least once a month in 44%, once a week in 20% and daily in 7% of the adult US population. [3][4][5] However, studies describing the epidemiology of GERD in South-East Asia and for that matter in India are sparse; and traditionally GERD was thought to be uncommon in the developing countries, [6] on the other hand, studies in the multiethnic population showed that people of Indian origin are at higher risk of GERD than ethnic Malay and Chinese. [7] And the studies done in India emphasize that the prevalence of GERD in India is ...