Parentally reported early childhood upper gastrointestinal symptoms alleviate at school age

Abstract

Aim: This study estimated follow-up outcomes for children presenting with troublesome upper gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in early childhood.

Methods: We identified from our upper endoscopy registry children with undefined GI symptoms having undergone an oesophagogastroduodenoscopy to rule out oesophagitis at a median age of 2.6 years in 2006-2016. We included only those with normal findings. In early 2020, we performed a National Patient Data Repository and Prescription Service review to note patients' current GI symptoms, medications and medical consultations. We also employed a study-specific questionnaire with a validated quality-of-life measure (the PedsQL).

Results: After a median of 7.9 years of follow-up, the children (n = 199) had a median age of 10.6 years. Medical consultations related to upper GI symptoms were rare. However, parents reported recurrent GI symptoms in 24% of the children, and 41% followed a specific diet. Regular anti-acid medication was in use in 3.5% of the cohort, more often when with a predisposing condition for reflux disease. The current quality of life was good.

Conclusion: Although some upper GI symptoms may persist after early childhood, patients without diseases predisposing to reflux disease have a good quality of life without GI-related morbidity in school age.

Keywords: endoscopy; gastro-oesophageal reflux; gastrointestinal symptoms; health-related quality of life; long-term outcome.