Modern strategy for management of pediatric patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease in compliance with the international and national guidelines

Abstract

Recent epidemiological studies demonstrated that gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) takes a leading place among acid‑dependent gastroenterological diseases. The problems of GERD development prevention and its treatment are topical since GERD significantly reduces the quality of life, especially when extraesophageal symptoms appear. Timely and correct GERD diagnosis, treatment and monitoring in pediatric patients prevents the development of complicated course of the disease in adults. Last decade, priority attention has been given to improving the quality of medical care in most countries worldwide. To achieve this purpose, effective medical care should be provided and the results of treatment of patients should be improved.
 The review presents analysis of current strategies for GERD diagnosis and treatment in pediatric patients based on the international and national guidelines. To ensure the proper quality of medical care, it is necessary to standardize approaches to diagnosis and treatment of diseases in childhood. The preparation of the Medical Standards of Care «Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Children» by a multidisciplinary group of experts and the adaptation of the clinical guideline are purposed to the improvement of existing diagnostic and treatment approaches to GERD pediatric patients in Ukraine, to ensuring high‑quality and effective medical care and establishing the uniform requirements for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of this group of patients. The results of modern investigations, based on international consensuses on the GERD diagnosis and treatment in childhood, have been highlighted. The latest information on the expediency of administration of instrumental examinations and treatment tactics has been presented.