Dear Doc,

My son is 20 months old and has severe GERD (diagnosed by pH probe and upper GI) and probably beginning stages of EE. We do not yet know what the allergy trigger is. He has been on Zyrtec (3/4 tsp QHS) for a very long time. I have taken him off the Zyrtec in anticipation of an upcoming allergy appt (with a new doc) in a few weeks. He has been off the Zyrtec for about 3 weeks. During that time, his reflux symptoms have worsened significantly. I slept in his room last night and could hear him refluxing over and over again in his sleep and swallowing it.

I was just thinking...if it is EE, could taking him off the Zyrtec be causing an exacerbation of EE sx and therefore and increase in secondary reflux sx? Do YOU think putting him back on the Zyrtec might help his reflux or is this totally off the wall?

I hope that is not too confusing. Thanks in advance for any input you might have.

Hi,

Hard to say. Eosinophilic esophagitis can look like reflux and it is possible that the withdrawal of the Zyrtec is causing an increase in the symptoms. I would discuss this with the gastroenterologist at the visit, and hopefully his symptoms won't increase too much in the next few weeks.

Sorry I can't be of more help, Dr. Olson