Incidence of reflux in young children undergoing adenoidectomy

Objective: To compare the incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in children under 2 years of age who have symptomatic adenoid hypertrophy requiring surgical removal or who have otitis media with effusion requiring ventilation tube insertion without adenoidectomy. Study Design: Retrospective chart review. Setting: An academic pediatric otolaryngology unit. Patients: All children under age 2 undergoing adenoidectomy (Ad group) between January 1998 and May 2000 were compared with children in the same age range having ventilation tube insertion without adenoidectomy (VT group). Main Outcome Measures. Whether a diagnosis of GERD was made, how it was made, GERD treatment, and resolution of symptoms were compared. Results: There were 95 children in the Ad group and 99 in the VT group. GERD incidence was significantly higher in the Ad group where it was 42% versus 7% in the VT group (P < .001). In the Ad group, 88% of children age 1 or less had GERD, and 32% of those older than 1 had GERD diagnosed. In the VT group, 14% of patients age 1 or less and 2% of those older than 1 had a diagnosis of GERD. Conclusions: Children under age 2 with symptomatic adenoid enlargement requiring adenoidectomy have a significantly higher incidence of GERD than children in the same age group presenting with otitis media requiring ventilation tube insertion.