Study of Postnasal Discharge Among Patients with GERD without Affection of Nose or Paranasal Sinuses and the Response to Treatment

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a very common digestive disorder worldwide with an estimated prevalence of 18.1- 27.8%. It is a condition with troublesome symptoms and complications that result from the reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus. To evaluate postnasal drip (PND) in patients with GERD without affection of nose or paranasal sinuses and to evaluate the role of PPI in the management of PND caused by GERD. The current study was conducted on forty patients with gastroesophageal reflux and postnasal drip, their ages range from 20-50 years old. In the current study, upper GI endoscopy was done to all the participants and it revealed that There were 12 patients with Esophagitis with incompetent cardia (30%), 10 patients with esophagitis (25%), 8 patients with Esophagitis with incompetent cardia and hiatus hernia (20%),3 patients with Esophagitis with hiatus hernia(7.5),2 patients with incompetent cardia (5%),2 patients with incompetent cardia with hiatus hernia (5%) and 3 patients with peptic ulcer (7.5%). Moreover, we found that there was a significant prevalence of GERD in males more than in females (60% to 40% prospectively) and the incidence is more common in the Middle Ages. Finally, our study shows that in the studied patients of GERD with PND after treatment with pantoprazole showing 29 patients (72.5%) improved and 11 patients (27.5%) not improved. PND is one of the common extra-esophageal manifestations of REFLUX. PND associated with GERD more common in males than females. PND has a higher incidence with typical symptoms of GERD than atypical symptoms. PPI is a good choice to manage PND associated with GERD.