According to a study presented at the annual meeting of the North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition last month, researchers from Loyola University Medical Center found that nearly one third of parents reported visiting three doctors before receiving a correct diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux for their child.
And among toddlers and preschoolers in the study, more than 50% experienced a 3 month delay from the time of symptom presentation to diagnosis. 22% of children in this age group experienced a delay in diagnosis of greater than 18 months.
While these stats are concerning, they should come as no surprise for some parents who have sought attention for reflux disease. As pediatric GERD awareness remains in its infancy, vigilance is what drove the caregivers in this study to seek care for their kids.
Look for this compelling study to reach peer reviewed publication soon.