Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) in Children: From Infancy to Adolescence

The increased recognition of the difference between the adult and the pediatric populations in terms of the manifestation and the management of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), owes much to the number and nature of high quality clinical research and drug trials conducted in the past decade. The plethora of choices available to treat GERD is unprecedented. A primary care physician clearly understands the investigative and therapeutic options available, and some of the risks associated with them. What makes the physician wary is the absence of a) a clear objective definition of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in a pediatric population and b) sufficient data to support the use of the armamentarium available. The variety of definitions and terms used in the literature to define GERD adds to the confusion and results in a variety of approaches to