NDDIC News

New National Education Campaign on Pediatric Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

The Children's Digestive Health and Nutrition Foundation (CDHNF) partnered with the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) to launch an awareness campaign in pediatric gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Aimed at physicians and the general public, the Pediatric GERD Education Campaign seeks to improve the awareness, understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of GERD in infants, children, and adolescents. GERD occurs when the contents of the stomach back up into the esophagus. This common disease is sometimes overlooked in infants and children, and it can lead to more serious health problems in adults. The campaign aims to increase the detection and treatment of GERD in children and adolescents.

The campaign is chaired by Harland S. Winter, M.D., and features

• A comprehensive lecture kit based on the NASPGHAN Guidelines on Pediatric GERD. The materials, on CD-ROM, include slides and commentaries, references, and handouts. The presentation can be tailored to the audience. In addition, attendees are eligible for continuing medical education (CME) credits; CME forms are included on the CD-ROM.
  
  
• Grand Rounds presentations on GERD. Volunteer NASPGHAN members have led sessions across the country. Innovative teaching tools developed especially for the campaign will ensure that speakers give interesting and informative presentations.
  
  
• Materials for primary care physicians and their patients about the NASPGHAN Guidelines on Pediatric GERD. Key points are presented in new easy-to-understand formats. The materials will be distributed at Grand Rounds, by direct mail, and at professional meetings.
  
  
• Two new websites about pediatric GERD:
  
  
  - www.kidsacidreflux.org for parents and young children
  
  
  - www.teensacidreflux.org for adolescents

• Two new fact sheets from NASPGHAN and NDDIC for physicians and their patients: Gastroesophageal Reflux in Infants and Gastroesophageal Reflux in Children and Adolescents
  
  

All materials were developed in conjunction with a 14-member scientific advisory board. For more information about the campaign or to request printed materials, call 1–800–344–8888. Campaign materials are also available online at www.cdhnf.org or www.naspghan.org. To request copies of the Gastroesophageal Reflux in Infants and Gastroesophageal Reflux in Children and Adolescents fact sheets, contact NDDIC at 1–800–891–5389 or see them online.

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NIH Publication No. 04–4552
May 2004