COCUKLUK CAGINDA GASTROOSEFAGEAL REFLU

Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is the return of swallowed material from the stomach to the esophagus. It is normal for babies to regurgitate small proportions of their food, usually shortly after feeding is completed. It is not normal for a baby to regurgitate so much food that he does not retain sufficient calories for growth. GER may cause respiratory problems such as apnea, a life-threatening event, episodes of cyanosis in neonates, and recurrent or chronic lung disease in infants and children. The clinical approach to the identification and quantitation of reflux is the barium swallow; this is still the method most often used as the standard, although its sensitivity and specificity are low. Recently, radionuclide gastroesophagography (scintigraphy), a more physiological method of visualizing GER, and long-term esophageal pH monitoring, which is the most sensitive method for detecting GER, have become more popular. Other methods include endoscopy, esophageal manometry, ultrasonography and electrical impedance tomography. Initially, patients may be managed by modifying their food intake and with supportive antigravity measures. However, many individuals require drug therapy. Symptomatic relief can be achieved with antacids, sucralfate suspension, prokinetic agents, H₂ receptor antagonists, and H⁺-K⁺ ATPase pump blockers. Some patients may need to be considered for maintenance therapy or surgical therapy.