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Prevalence of Infant Regurgitation: Experience of the Working Group on Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction of the Latin American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (LASPGHAN)

Abstract:

Introduction. The prevalence of infant regurgitation in Latin American children is between 8.0% and 9.4% according to the Rome III criteria. Objective. To determine the prevalence of infant regurgitation in Latin American children according to the Rome IV criteria and its possible as-sociations. Materials and methods. A descriptive observational study of prevalence type was carried out in seven Latin American countries. The Functional International Digestive Epidemiological Research Survey database was used to select the sample. Children under 12 months of age who were diagnosed with infant regurgitation using the Pediatric Rome IV Gastrointestinal Symptoms Questionnaire were included in the study. Results. 1802 infants (80.7% from South America, 6.7 ± 3.8 months of age) were analyzed. Infant regurgitation was diagnosed in 6.8% (52.5% women; 39.8% mixed race; 46.7% Colombians); peak age: 6 months. There was a greater chance to present infant regurgitation in infants between 1 and 6 months of age, of indigenous race, from Central America, born by C-section, premature, treat-ed in a public institution, by a pediatric gastroenterologist and during the Covid-19 pandemic. There was a lower chance to present infant regurgitation in infants with complementary feeding. Conclusion. Infant regurgitation is frequent in Latin American infants, its prevalence is lower compared to that described in other countries, with risk factors such as race, origin, C-section, prematurity, site and level of care, and the Covid-19 pandemic. The protective factor is complementary feeding.