Bravo pH Monitoring System for Diagnosing Pediatric GERD

Studies have found that up to 75 percent of patients with symptoms of upper or lower respiratory tract disorders, such as asthma, croup, bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis, laryngomalacia and subglottic stenosis have reflux disease (Laryngoscope. 2004;114(4):786-788). Reflux must be diagnosed and treated in these cases to allow for proper respiratory treatment.

If GERD is diagnosed and treated in children, it may result in better long-term outcomes, such as improved quality of life and reduction in the overall health care burden. However, because GERD symptomatology is often atypical in children, and because traditional catheter-based monitoring is uncomfortable and cumbersome, many parents may forego testing for their children, leaving them undiagnosed, and consequently untreated, for this disorder.

Devices like the Bravo pH monitoring system may offer a more desirable diagnostic option for pH monitoring for pediatric patients and their parents in terms of comfort and convenience.

©2006 The Triological Society