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 I 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.