Asthma and Reflux

If your child has asthma, you should consider whether your child might also have reflux. More evidence of the relationship between gastroesophageal reflux and asthma was published in the April 2002 issue of The Journal of Asthma. The study was unable to correlate the type and timing of reflux with the beginning of asthma, but in general, the severity of the reflux was directly proportional to the severity of the asthma.

We’ve known for some time that there is some type of connection between the two problems. Estimates of the prevalence of reflux among those with asthma range from 34 percent to 89 percent – too high to be coincidence.

The evidence is mixed about whether reflux triggers asthma, asthma (or asthma medicines) triggers reflux, both, or neither. We do know, however, that effective treatment for the reflux can dramatically improve the asthma.

If your child has asthma, you might want to discuss the possibility of reflux treatment with your doctor.