Study looks at effect of silent acid reflux on children with asthma

By Dipali Pathak

Treating a disease called silent acid reflux may improve asthma control in children, according to researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital in Houston.

Heartburn, common with stomach acid reflux disease, is usually accompanied by a sour sensation in the mouth and chest pain. Silent acid reflux can occur without any such symptoms. This is a special concern in children with asthma.

Children between the ages of 6 and 17 years may be eligible to participate in a study to determine whether treating silent acid reflux will improve asthma control. To qualify, participants must:

• Be under the care of a physician for asthma;
• Take prescribed asthma medicine regularly, but still have asthma symptoms;
• Not currently taking daily prescription medicine for stomach acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux.

Volunteer participants will receive free lung function testing and be compensated for their time. If the child qualifies, a free pH probe test to confirm acid reflux may also be done.

The study is being conducted by the American Lung Association-Asthma Clinical Research Centers.

For more information about this study, please call 713-798-2682.