TY - JOUR T1 - Feed thickeners in gastro-oesophageal reflux in infants JF - BMJ Paediatrics Open DO - 10.1136/bmjpo-2018-000262 VL - 2 IS - 1 SP - e000262 AU - T’ng Chang Kwok AU - Shalini Ojha AU - Jon Dorling Y1 - 2018/06/01 UR - http://bmjpaedsopen.bmj.com/content/2/1/e000262.abstract N2 - Gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) is the involuntary retrograde passage of gastric contents into the oesophagus with or without regurgitation. This is a common physiological, self-limiting condition in healthy infants with a prevalence peaking at 3–4 months of age, occurring more than once a day in 50% of healthy infants. As infants achieve upright posture with neurodevelopment maturation and acquire a more solid diet with age, symptoms usually improve by 6 months old with resolution by 12–14 months old.1 Transient inappropriate relaxation of the lower oesophageal sphincter and delayed gastric emptying are common mechanisms leading to GOR. This is further exaggerated in preterm infants who have shorter and immature oesophagus with non-peristaltic motility.How is gastro-oesophageal reflux disease diagnosed?With increasingly frequency and severity, GOR becomes pathological. Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is defined as ‘reflux of gastric contents causing troublesome symptoms or complications or both’ by the North American Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition and the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.2 Rather than distinct entities, GOR and GORD are commonly seen as a continuum and non-invasive distinction of GOR and GORD is difficult. The term ‘troublesome symptoms’ in infants is vague due to the non-specific and pervasive nature of GOR symptoms. The lack of gold-standard objective measures and reliance on symptom reporting by caregiver complicate the diagnostic process. Diagnosis is usually inferred when infants display frequent reflux episodes with clear association between symptoms and reflux without an alternate diagnosis.The management aim of GORD should be to reduce symptoms and prevent complications without side effects. Current consensus2 recommends expectant management … ER -