Treating GERD (reflux) may, or may not, help children with asthma

According to Reuters, "in children with both asthma and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), treating the latter can improve the former.


Organs of the digestive tract. Image source: Wikipedia, public domain.

Studies in adults suggest that 4 out of 5 asthmatics experience chronic cough and hoarseness due to acid reflux. While the connections between asthma and GERD remain unclear, antireflux medications sometimes help asthma symptoms.

Two thirds of patients with asthma have underlying reflux and GERD has been implicated in provoking asthma.

After 2 years, children receiving anti-reflux therapy experienced less than one asthma flare-up per year, compared with almost three flare-ups per year among other children."

In patients with asthma and chronic productive cough, polymorphonuclear (PMN) neutrophil leukocytes in sputum suggest:

(A) infection

(B) GERD

(C) presence of a foreign body

(D) exercise-induced asthma

(E) extrinsic asthma

Correct answers: A, B, C

References:
Treating reflux helps kids with asthma. Reuters, Nov 10, 2008.

Diagnosis of chronic cough in children

PPIs Not Recommended for Routine Treatment of Adult Asthma - in patients with "silent" GERD. Medscape, 2011.

Insufficient evidence to recommend empirical use of PPIs for routine treatment of asthma. Arch Intern Med. 2011;171(7):620-629.