 |
|
New test could aid children suffering from reflux disease
June 17, 2008Nuclear medicine could improve diagnosis, treatment of reflux in children with respiratory problems
NEW ORLEANS, La.-A nuclear medicine imaging test was used to confirm that children with respiratory problems may be more likely to develop gastroesophageal reflux disease, according to researchers at SNM's 55th Annual Meeting. The nuclear imaging technique, known as scintigraphy, was also shown to be more effective in detecting the disease in these children than traditional barium X-ray technology. The results indicate that scintigraphy could become an important diagnostic tool for detecting reflux disease, a serious condition that can lead to chronic chest pain, vomiting, weight loss and lung impairment in children who suffer from it.
"Unfortunately, reflux disease is a common problem in children, especially for those with respiratory problems," said Wajiha Nasir, a researcher at the Nuclear Medicine Oncology and Radiotherapy Institute (NORI), Islamabad, Pakistan. "If left untreated, the disease can seriously impede children's health, growth and development, not to mention their quality of life. Our results show that scintigraphy is highly effective at safely diagnosing the condition."
Reflux disease occurs when the esophagus becomes irritated or inflamed by stomach contents. The stomach produces hydrochloric acid after a meal to aid in the digestion of food. Normally, a ring of muscle at the bottom of the esophagus, called the lower esophageal sphincter, prevents the acid from going back up the esophagus. With reflux disease, however, the sphincter relaxes between swallows, allowing stomach contents and corrosive acid to well up and damage the lining of the esophagus.
The chronic condition affects up to a third of adults, and many infants and children also suffer from it. Some of these children outgrow the condition as their digestive systems mature, but many do not. Researchers have long suspected that children who have respiratory problems such as asthma might also be more susceptible to reflux disease.
Scintigraphy is a diagnostic test in which a two-dimensional picture is obtained through detection of a radiation emitted by a radioactive source given to the body. In this study, 55 children aged six months to 12 years who had asthma or lower respiratory tract infections were orally administered a commonly used radioactive imaging agent that was then detected through scintigraphy technology.
The test detected reflux disease in 66.6 percent of the children, revealing a strong association between reflux disease and respiratory disease. In addition, scintigraphy proved more effective at detecting the disease than traditional barium x-rays. Children in the study who exhibited reflux disease were given medication to treat reflux. At a three-month follow-up visit, most of the children's symptoms had improved after receiving the medication.
"Scintigraphy is one of the simplest radionuclide tests to administer, with a very low radiation burden," said Nasir. If performed routinely for children suffering from bronchial asthma and recurrent respiratory tract infections, this test could get children the treatment they deserve."
Society of Nuclear Medicine
Reflux disease occurs when the esophagus becomes irritated or inflamed by stomach contents. The stomach produces hydrochloric acid after a meal to aid in the digestion of food. Normally, a ring of muscle at the bottom of the esophagus, called the lower esophageal sphincter, prevents the acid from going back up the esophagus. With reflux disease, however, the sphincter relaxes between swallows, allowing stomach contents and corrosive acid to well up and damage the lining of the esophagus.
The chronic condition affects up to a third of adults, and many infants and children also suffer from it. Some of these children outgrow the condition as their digestive systems mature, but many do not. Researchers have long suspected that children who have respiratory problems such as asthma might also be more susceptible to reflux disease.
Scintigraphy is a diagnostic test in which a two-dimensional picture is obtained through detection of a radiation emitted by a radioactive source given to the body. In this study, 55 children aged six months to 12 years who had asthma or lower respiratory tract infections were orally administered a commonly used radioactive imaging agent that was then detected through scintigraphy technology.
The test detected reflux disease in 66.6 percent of the children, revealing a strong association between reflux disease and respiratory disease. In addition, scintigraphy proved more effective at detecting the disease than traditional barium x-rays. Children in the study who exhibited reflux disease were given medication to treat reflux. At a three-month follow-up visit, most of the children's symptoms had improved after receiving the medication.
"Scintigraphy is one of the simplest radionuclide tests to administer, with a very low radiation burden," said Nasir. If performed routinely for children suffering from bronchial asthma and recurrent respiratory tract infections, this test could get children the treatment they deserve."
Society of Nuclear Medicine
Reflux Disease News and Current Reflux Disease Events RSSObesity raises risks of serious digestive health concerns
The prevalence of obesity and overweight in the United States coupled by the increased risk of gastrointestinal diseases related to obesity raises serious implications for the health of Americans.
Researchers find differences in swallowing mechanism of Rett syndrome patients
Researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center have found that the reflux and swallowing problems that are common symptoms in patients with Rett syndrome and other neurological impairments, may be caused by a different mechanism than they are in healthy individuals.
ASGE issues guidelines on the role of endoscopy in the bariatric surgery patient
The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) has issued guidelines on the role of endoscopy in the bariatric surgery patient.
Scientists identify how gastric reflux may trigger asthma
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center appear to have solved at least a piece of a puzzle that has mystified physicians for years: why so many patients with asthma also suffer from GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Nearly 40 percent of GERD patients taking PPIs experience recurring symptoms
Despite daily use of doctor-recommended proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to control gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms, nearly 40 percent of patients who take them continue to experience breakthrough, which is a return of GERD symptoms, such as acid regurgitation and heartburn.
Age, burden, divorce and heavy tea consumption are significant risk factors for erosive esophagitis
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common disorder with a high incidence rate in adults of 10 - 38%. The diagnosis and treatment of GERD are therefore important because the disease, in addition to the highly disturbing typical symptoms, has a series of known consequences.
Study measures impact on productivity from functional gastrointestinal disorders
Those who suffer from common functional gastrointestinal disorders face work productivity losses and impairments in daily activity that amount to the loss of at least one day of work in a 40-hour workweek.
New studies reveal that night-time acid reflux can impact sleep
According to results of a survey presented at the 72nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology, nighttime acid reflux, along with some of the less typical manifestations or symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is associated with significant sleep impairment.
Electroacupuncture at PC6 may decrease frequency of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation
The First Hospital of Peking University, China-Research, has shown that electroacupuncture at PC6 may decrease the frequency of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation (TLESR), which is the main mechanism underlying gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Obesity boosts gullet cancer risk 6-fold
Obese people are six times as likely to develop gullet (oesophageal) cancer as people of 'healthy' weight, shows research published ahead of print in the journal Gut.
More Reflux Disease News Articles
 | The Cure for All Diseases by Hulda Regehr Clark |
 | Why Stomach Acid is Good for You: Natural Relief from Heartburn, Indigestion, Reflux and GERD by Jonathan Wrihgt This groundbreaking book unleashes a brilliant new plan for permanently curing heartburn by relieving the root cause of the problem: low stomach... |
 | Eating for Acid Reflux: A Handbook and Cookbook for Those with Heartburn by Jill Sklar, Annabel Cohen Gastroesophageal reflux disease—a digestive condition characterized by a surplus of gastric acid that backs up into the esophagus and damages fragile tissues—causes burning pain, nausea, and vomiting for millions of people each day. Now, in Eating for Acid Reflux, authors and fellow acid reflux sufferers Jill Sklar and Annabel Cohen offer an invaluable resource for all those seeking... |
 | The Doctor's Guide to Gastrointestinal Health: Preventing and Treating Acid Reflux, Ulcers, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Diverticulitis, Celiac Disease, Colon ... Pancreatitis, Cirrhosis, Hernias and more by Paul, M.D. Miskovitz, Marian Betancourt "This is the reference guide you dream about--answers to all your important questions written in a language you can understand. For everyone who wants better health and peace of mind." --Diane Sawyer, Co-anchor of ABC News' Good Morning America and PrimeTime Thursday "An important, practical, easy-to-read, and easy-to-understand source of information for anyone with a chronic... |
 | Chronic Heartburn: Managing Acid Reflux and GERD Through Understanding, Diet and Lifestyle -- Includes More than 100 Recipes by Barbara E. Wendland, Lisa Marie Ruffolo 44% of Americans experience heartburn and acid reflux on a regular basis. Acid reflux disease, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a serious affliction affecting millions of Americans. With GERD's severe symptoms not always responsive to treatment, the result is often a poor quality of life. This welcome book is a comprehensive resource to crucial medical facts and coping... |
 | Tell Me What to Eat If I Have Acid Reflux: Nutrition You Can Live With (Tell Me What to Eat) by Elaine Magee Heartburn isn't just a minor inconvenience--it is very painful and can inhibit your sleep, affect your work, and make you feel miserable. Of course, if you are one of the 60 million Americans who get heartburn at least once a month, you already know this. Heartburn happens when the lining of the esophagus comes in contact with too much stomach juice, which can produce a burning pain and injure... |
 | Heartburn & Reflux for Dummies by Carol Ann Rinzler, Ken, MD DeVault If you or someone you love suffers from heartburn, you know that it can be very disruptive to your daily life. Most heartburn sufferers say it stops them from enjoying food. Others say it keeps them from getting a good night’s sleep, it makes it hard to concentrate at work, and it interferes with family activities. Sound familiar? Don’t worry. Heartburn is a pain, but it can be... |
 | How to Stop Heartburn: Simple Ways to Heal Heartburn and Acid Reflux by Anil Minocha, Christine Adamec Relief at Last for the Millions of Chronic Heartburn Sufferers Written by an internationally recognized expert on digestive diseases, this much-needed book brings relief to the tens of millions who suffer from the pain of severe heartburn almost daily. If you find yourself dependent on antacids, losing sleep, missing work, or canceling plans because of heartburn discomfort, you may be... |
 | Saving Yourself from the Disease-Care Crisis by Walt Stoll Saving Yourself from the Disease-Care Crisis discusses the critical state of health care in America today and asks hard questions about the monopoly of conventional medicine that limits the options available to most consuemrs of medical services. This book also offers safe, simple treatments which have been effectively used to relieve suffering and reverse the effects of many of the ills... |
 | The Reflux Book: A Parent's Guide to Gastroesophageal Reflux by Beth Pulsifer-Anderson Does your child have colic or acid reflux? The first half of the book is for parents of infants with mild to moderate reflux. The second part of the book is for parents of older children and children with more serious problems. The book also includes a very detailed table of contents, an index, a resource list and several forms for tracking symptoms. * Information on symptoms and... |
| © 2008 BrightSurf.com |