文本框: THE INCIDENCE OF REFLUX ESOPHAGITIS IN CHILDREN IN SOUTH CHINA Gong S-T, Ou W-J, Pan R-F Guangzhou Children’s Hospital, Guangzhou, China Objective: To study epidemiological data on reflux esophagitis in children in South China. Methods: To evaluate the incidence of reflux esophagitis, upper gastro-intestinal endoscopies were performed on 3200 patients, whose age ranged from 3 days to 14 years. Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) was determined by rapid urease test combined with histological examination. Results: The overall incidence of reflux esophagitis was 3.1% (99/3200), and most of the patients (94.9%) had a mild grade of esophagitis. Hiatal hernia was not found. The youngest age of onset was 3 months. The total positivity rate of H. pylori was 20.1% (643/3200); the positivity rates of H pylori of esophagitis and the rest cases were 22.2% (22/99) and 20.0% (621/3201). There was no significant difference between the positivity rates of H.pylori of esophagitis and the rest cases (p>0.05). Esophagitis with symptoms (vomiting, acid regurgitation, heartburn, and belching) was 12.9%, 5.4%, 3.9and 4.7%, respectively. The vomiting was significantly higher than the other symptoms (p< 0.05). Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, the incidence of endoscopic reflux esophagitis in children among the South China is 3.1%, which is lower than in adult. There is no significant differences between the positivity rates of H pylori of esophagitis and the other upper gastro-intestinal diseases. The vomiting is the most common symptoms of esophagitis in children. 0776