RT Book, Section A1 Rosen, Rachel A2 Kline, Mark W. SR Print(0) ID 1182907628 T1 Gastroesophageal Reflux and Other Causes of Esophageal Inflammation T2 Rudolph's Pediatrics, 23e YR 2018 FD 2018 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9781259588594 LK accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1182907628 RD 2024/03/29 AB Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is the spontaneous passage of gastric contents into the esophagus. When it reaches the mouth, it is also called regurgitation. GER is a normal physiologic process that occurs throughout the day in healthy infants, children, and adults. When GER causes bothersome symptoms, GER becomes GERD, GER disease. The signs and symptoms that have been attributed to GERD range from chest pain and heartburn to cough and pneumonia (Table 389-1). However, 1 of the diagnostic challenges with bothersome symptoms is proving that these symptoms are, in fact, reflux related (rather than just associated) to avoid ineffective treatment of symptoms. This concern of ineffective treatment or overtreatment is of utmost importance in the face of growing evidence that medical and surgical reflux therapies (acid suppression and fundoplication) can have short- and long-term side effects.