Abstract
Objective:
Airway reflux, a member of extra-esophageal reflux, has been linked to countless respiratory pathologies amongst children. The advent of novel instrumentation has enabled the discovery of non-acid reflux which was postulated as the main culprit of airway reflux. The objective of this review is to outline the association between non-acid reflux and airway reflux in children.
Methods:
A comprehensive review of recent literature on non-acid reflux and airway reflux in children was conducted. Studies ranged from January 2010 till November 2021 were searched over a period of a month: December 2021.
Results:
A total of eleven studies were identified. All studies included in this review revealed a strong link between non-acid reflux and airway reflux in children. 6 of the included studies are prospective studies, 3 retrospective studies, 1 cross-section study, and type of study was not mentioned in 1 study. The most common reported respiratory manifestation of non-acid reflux in children was chronic cough (7 studies). Predominant non-acid reflux was noted in 4 studies. The total number of children in each study ranges from 21 to 150 patients. MII-pH study was carried out in all studies included as a diagnostic tool for reflux investigation.
Conclusion:
Non-acid reflux is the culprit behind airway reflux as well as other myriads of extra-esophageal manifestations in children. Multicentre international studies with a standardized protocol could improve scientific knowledge in managing non-acid reflux in airway reflux amongst children.
KEYWORDS
Gastroesophageal reflux; Laryngopharyngeal reflux; Airway reflux; Non-acid reflux; Children
HIGHLIGHTS
Airway reflux, a form of extra-esophageal reflux, has been linked to countless respiratory pathologies amongst children.
Review of the literature revealed that non-acid reflux is the culprit behind airway reflux and other myriads of extra-esophageal manifestations in children.
Non-acid reflux explains the exasperation faced by numerous otorhinolaryngologists following the futile outcome of devout usage of acid suppression in children to treat airway reflux.
A recent surge in the implementation of multichannel intraluminal impedance monitoring amongst children has enabled the discovery of non-acid reflux.
Multicentre international studies with a standardized protocol could improve scientific knowledge in managing non-acid reflux in airway reflux amongst children.