Effect of Myrtle Syrup on Refractory Pediatric Gastroesophageal Reflux in an Eight-Year-Old Boy: A Case Report

Document Type : Case reports or series

Authors

1 Department of Traditional Medicine,Traditional and Complementary Medicine Research Center (TCMRC), School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran

2 Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

3 Traditional and Complementary Medicine Research Center, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran.

4 Department of Traditional Medicine, School of Persian Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is the most common disorder of childhood. GER can continue to older ages, reducing quality of life. Unfortunately, therapeutic interventions treatments are not always successful. It is the first report of pediatric GERD treatment in Iranian Traditional Medicine (ITM).
Case Presentation: An 8-year-old boy with recurrent GER and chronic abdominal pain was referred to a Traditional Medicine clinic. The child had suffered from severe irritability and recurrent regurgitation since infancy. Endoscopy was performed in the second year of life and severe esophagitis found. He was treated with oral omeprazole (1 mg/kg/day divided in 2 doses). After a month, abdominal pain and irritability continued. His problems remained until the age of five despite use of medication. Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) occurred in December 2013. In that month he was hospitalized twice times. In February 2014, he was admitted to the clinic of traditional medicine, due to poor feeding and abdominal pain. He was diagnosed with GER and stomach weakness. Myrtus communis (Myrtle) syrup 2.5 cc three times daily and quince jam for breakfast were prescribed. Abdominal pain improved after two months of treatment and within 2 years of follow-up his general condition was excellent. During this time there were no signs or symptoms of reflux recurrence.
Conclusion: Myrtle is useful in reducing edema, and strengthening the stomach and gastrointestinal tract. The effect of “quince” in the treatment of GERD is similar to omeprazole, while it also has other properties such as strengthening the LES. These fruits overcome the most common mechanisms of GER and have a direct role in the patient’s improvement.

Keywords

References

1. Vandenplas Y, Goyvaerts H, Helven R, Sacre L. Gastroesophageal reflux, as measured by 24-hour pH monitoring, in 509 healthy infants screened for risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Pediatrics. 1991;88(4):834-40.
2. Miyazawa R, Tomomasa T, Kaneko H, Morikawa A. Effect of locust bean gum in anti-regurgitant milk on the regurgitation in uncomplicated gastroesophageal reflux. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2004;38(5):479-83.
3. Martin AJ, Pratt N, Kennedy JD, Ryan P, Ruffin RE, Miles H, et al. Natural history and familial relationships of infant spilling to 9 years of age. Pediatrics. 2002;109(6):1061-7.
4. Vandenplas Y, Rudolph CD, Di Lorenzo C, Hassall E, Liptak G, Mazur L, et al. Pediatric gastroesophageal reflux clinical practice guidelines: joint recommendations of the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) and the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (ESPGHAN). Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 2009;49(4):498-547.
5. Eherer A. Management of gastroesophageal reflux disease: lifestyle modification and alternative approaches. Dig Dis. 2014;32(1-2):149-51.
6. Onyeador N, Paul SP, Sandhu BK. Paediatric gastroesophageal reflux clinical practice guidelines. Archives of disease in childhood-Education & practice edition. 2014;99(5):190-3.
7. Hegar B. Gastroesophageal reflux in infants. The Southeast Asian journal of tropical medicine and public health. 2013;45:69-72.
8. Kawahara H, Kubota A, Hasegawa T, Okuyama H, Ueno T, Ida S, et al. Effects of rikkunshito on the clinical symptoms and esophageal acid exposure in children with symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux. Pediatric Surgery International. 2007;23(10):1001-5.
9. Wenzl TG, Schneider S, Scheele F, Silny J, Heimann G, Skopnik H. Effects of thickened feeding on gastroesophageal reflux in infants: a placebo-controlled crossover study using intraluminal impedance. Pediatrics. 2003;111(4):e355-e9.
10. Tsai CC, Chang LC, Huang SC, Tey SL, Hsu WL, Su YT, et al. Salvia miltiorrhiza induces tonic contraction of the lower esophageal sphincter in rats via activation of extracellular Ca2+ influx. Molecules. 2015;20(8):14504-21.
11. Vivatvakin B, Buachum V. Effect of carob bean on gastric emptying time in Thai infants. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2003;12(2):193-7.
12. Miyazawa R, Tomomasa T, Kaneko H, Arakawa H, Morikawa A. Effect of formula thickened with reduced concentration of locust bean gum on gastroesophageal reflux. Acta Paediatr. 2007;96(6):910-4.
13. Salehi M, Azizkhani M, Mobli M, Shakeri R, Saberi- Firoozi M, Rahimi R, et al. The Effect of Myrtus communis L. Syrup in Reducing the Recurrence of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial. Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal. 2017;19(7).
14. Aghili Mh. Makhzan-al-Advia. Tehran, Iran: Tehran University of Medical Sciences; 2009.
15. Avicenna. Qanun fi al Tib. Beirut, Lebanon: Institute Alaalami Library; 2005.
16. Sumbul S, Ahmad MA, Asif M, Saud I, Akhtar M. Evaluation of Myrtus communis Linn. berries (common myrtle) in experimental ulcer models in rats. Human & experimental toxicology. 2010;29(11):935-44.
17. Salehi M, Karegar-Borzi H, Karimi M, Rahimi R. Medicinal Plants for Management of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Review of Animal and Human Studies. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, NY). 2017;23(2):82-95
18. Zohalinezhad ME, Hosseini-Asl MK, Akrami R, Nimrouzi M, Salehi A, Zarshenas MM. Myrtus communis L. Freeze-Dried Aqueous Extract Versus Omeprazol in Gastrointestinal Reflux Disease A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. Journal of evidence-based complementary & alternative medicine. 2015:2156587215589403.
19. Zohalinezhad ME, Imanieh MH, Samani SM, Mohagheghzadeh A, Dehghani SM, Haghighat M, et al. Effects of Quince syrup on clinical symptoms of children with symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease: A double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial. Complementary therapies in clinical practice. 2015;21(4):268-76.

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics