Author/Editor		Križman, Igor
Title		Refluksni ezofagitis
Type		članek
Source		Krka Med Farm
Vol. and No.		Letnik 17, št. Suppl 1
Publication year		1996
Volume		str. 9-17
Language		slo
Abstract		The gastroesophageal reflux disease is among the most frequent causes for dyspeptic complaints. The prevalence of the disease is higher in the developed countries where an increase in the number of patients has been noted in the past decades. The incidence of the disease is greater among the elderly persons. The reflux disease may occur as a primary or as a secondary disease. A distinction is made between an occasional, a stress-induced and the so callo free reflux where the gastroesophageal sphincter is practically missing. Factors which may lead to a aggravation of reflux include axial hiatal hernia, smoking, alcohol intake, certain drugs, too opulent meals, obesity, constipation etc. The majority of patients experience symptoms occasionally, but there is also a rather large group of patients in whom the complaints are of a permanent nature. The most prominent symptoms include heartburn, regurgitation, dysphagia and odynophagia, and possibly chest pain, asthma, chronic cough and others. For the detection of the disease, the follwing diagnostic methods are applied: endoscopy, 24-hour pH-metry and esophageal manometry. If characteristic symptoms are present and the patient's medical history is of short duration, treatment may be attempted without futher delay, otherwise the above stated diagnostic methods should be employed.
Descriptors		GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DEGLUTITION DISORDERS