clinical course

Last reviewed 01/2018

GORD typically follows a chronic relapsing and remitting course. Studies show that many patients take medication continually or intermittently for ten years or more.

Untreated, fewer than 20% of patients will become symptom free.

The presence of oesophagitis may be intermittent and may be independent of symptoms.

Typical symptoms include (1) :

  • heartburn
  • acid regurgitation

Atypical symptoms include (1) :

  • dysphagia
  • globus sensation
  • non-cardiac chest pain
  • dyspepsia or abdominal pain

Possible extra-oesophageal clinical features include (1) :

  • hoarseness
  • sore throat
  • sinusitis
  • otitis media
  • chronic cough
  • laryngitis
  • polyps on the vocal cords
  • dental erosions
  • non-atopic asthma
  • recurrent aspiration
  • pulmonary fibrosis

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