The Filipino Reflux Symptom Index

What is it about?

A “sensation of something sticking in the throat or a lump in your throat,” “throat-clearing,” and “heartburn, chest pain, indigestion, or stomach acid coming up” may signify reflux of stomach acid into the throat. Untreated reflux has been associated with numerous airway and digestive tract conditions, including chronic rhinosinusitis, ear infections, chronic cough, asthma, and cancers of the esophagus, throat, head and neck. Early detection and appropriate treatment may prevent these diseases and improve health and quality of life among Filipinos worldwide, particularly in primary health-care settings.

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Why is it important?

This nine-item Filipino Reflux Symptom Index (FRSI) may serve as a free, valid and reliable means of initial diagnosis and basis for treating reflux in primary health-care settings without resorting to expensive and tedious clinical and laboratory examinations. Initial response to an empiric trial of proton-pump inhibitors may support an impression of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux disease; non-response warrants specialist referral for further investigation.