Laryngopharyngeal reflux and reflux cough: A diagnostic conundrum.

Laryngopharyngeal reflux or 'atypical reflux disease' is an important and under-recognised diagnosis, often resulting in numerous visits to GPs with low-yield investigations and referrals to a variety of specialists, including respiratory physicians, ENT surgeons and gastroenterologists. This is frequently at considerable expense to the patient. Pathophysiological factors leading to the extraoesophageal symptoms of atypical reflux disease are poorly understood and acid suppression treatment is largely ineffective, leading to frustration on the part of the patient and their GP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]