Parentally reported early childhood upper gastrointestinal symptoms alleviate at school age.

Abstract

This study estimated follow-up outcomes for children presenting with troublesome upper gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in early childhood. 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 2.6years 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). After a median of 7.9years of follow-up, the children (n=199) had a median age of 10.6years. 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. 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.