BACKGROUND: In recent years, laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) in children has been taken into consideration.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the laryngoscopic findings in children diagnosed LPR and/or gastro-oesophageal reflux (GERD).

METHODS: The findings of 49 patients with at least one or more respiratory complaint such as chronic cough, wheezing, hoarseness, recurrent laryngitis, and throat clearing/postnasal discharge suggesting LPR were evaluated retrospectively. The diagnosis of LPR+GERD or GERD was done by the clinical history and 24h double-probe pH monitoring and/or scintigraphy.

RESULTS: Thirty eight out of 49 patients examined by laryngoscopy underwent 24h double-probe pH monitoring and/or scintigraphy. Thirty of them were diagnosed as LPR+GERD or GERD by any test positivity. Twelve of 30 patients diagnosed with LPR+GERD or GERD had a positive laryngeal finding on the examination of fibre optic laryngoscopy. The most common finding with eight cases was arytenoid erythema A sensitivity of 40% and specificity of 50% for the laryngoscopy in the diagnosis of LPR/GERD were found.

CONCLUSION: In children with unexplained respiratory symptoms, laryngopharyngeal reflux should be suspected. Therefore, until enough data on this issue in the literature accumulates, the history and the laboratory findings of the patients obtained from various techniques to document paediatric LPR should be evaluated together.