Most youngsters outgrow it. It is also believed to be a cause of recurring colds and upper respiratory infections. In very few cases, experts think it is a cause of some choking deaths mistakenly attributed to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, said Dr. Christopher Post, a co-author of the study by researchers at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. Heartburn is the major symptom in adults affected by the ailment. It can cause constant throat irritation that can lead to esophageal cancer .
Treatment includes diet, drugs and sometimes surgery.
If a culprit gene is found, doctors may be able to diagnose the disease with a simple blood test instead of an invasive procedure, Post said. Doctors outside the study agreed it could be a breakthrough. One drawback is that so few families were studied, said Dr. Frank Hamilton of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Still, he called the results promising. Click Here to make suggestions, comments about C-Health.