Evaluation of 24-hour oesophageal pH monitoring in children with food allergy

Introduction : Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and food allergy are conditions occurring most often in young children. Many authors emphasize the relationship between them.

Aim: To evaluate 24-h oesophageal pH monitoring in children with food allergy.

Material and methods: The retrospective analysis included 84 children with food allergy aged from 4 months to 24 months. The control group consisted of 15 children at the same age diagnosed with GER but without features of allergy. All children underwent 24-h oesophageal pH monitoring.

Results : Gastroesophageal reflux was diagnosed among children with allergy in 29 patients (34.5%). A gradual increase of the number and duration of reflux episodes in the period between meals compared to the postprandial period in both groups with GER was observed. The number of reflux episodes was higher in children with coexistent allergy. Analysis of graphic record of oesophageal pH monitoring revealed a primary reflux in 12 children with GER and allergy as well as in 9 children from the control group. In the remaining children from both groups the record showed features of secondary reflux, but the phases were not fully presented. The incidence of GER with features of secondary reflux was similar in both groups.

Conclusions: Twenty-four-hour oesophageal pH monitoring is helpful, but it cannot be the sole diagnostic criterion in the diagnosis of GER dependent on food allergy. Such a diagnosis should be based on the results of oesophageal pH monitoring as well as allergological and immunological tests.