Syed Irfan Ahmed, M. Naseemullah, Khalid Mahmud, Nadeem Iqbal Sheikh.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Masquerading as Upper Respiratory Illness and Response to Treatment.
J Rawal Med Coll Jan ;4(1-2):11-3.

Introduction: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is a common condition, characterised by symptoms or tissue damage due to reflux of gastric contents into the oesophagus. It is estimated that about 20% of adults experience weekly episodes of heartburn while 7-10% complain of daily symptoms. The severity varies from a oft ignored retrosternal burning to a severe chest pain which keeps the patient up all night. It is being increasingly recognized that GORD may be more protean in presentation with patients exhibiting upper respiratory symptoms alone and no G.I. complaint. The object of this study was to confirm or refute the association of GORD with upper respiratory symptoms and gauge the response to treatment. Study: Thirty two patients presenting with upper respiratory symptoms underwent Indirect Mirror Laryngoscopy and Upper G. 1. Endoscopy. 56%, cases showed evidence of laryngitis while endoscopic appearance of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was noted in 44%. Respiratory symptoms abated in 72% of cases after treatment with Omeprazole 40mg daily for four weeks. Only 50% of patients had symptoms suggestive of CORD at the start of the study. We conclude that GORD has a protean presentation which often assumes the form of a pure upper respiratory illness.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com