Eosinophilic esophagitis in children: Experience in diagnosis, clinical observation in a multidisciplinary hospital

Abstract

This study presented the characteristics of seven patients with eosinophilic esophagitis from age 1 year and 2 months to age 17 years and 4 months. The follow-up duration ranged from 1 to 7.5 years. Disease onset was observed at different ages: aged 2 years (n=6) and 2 months (n=1). The period between the occurrences of the first symptom to diagnosis ranged from 3 months to 9 years. In one patient, the symptoms were associated with cows milk allergy, whereas the cause was not identified in other cases. Allergic diseases (i.e., atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and asthma) were observed in six patients. Treatment was provided according to the clinical guidelines. Six patients were prescribed topical steroids (budesonide) and an empirical elimination diet. One patient was prescribed only with an empirical elimination diet due to the steroid phobia of the parents. However, the ineffectiveness of the diet was the basis for topical steroid prescription. During the follow-up, a relapse was observed in two patients who required repeated treatments. A clinical case of eosinophilic esophagitis in a 6-year-old child, with 7.5 years of follow-up, was described. According to the anamnesis, the patient visited a gastroenterologist 4 years after the onset of dysphagia symptoms. Endoscopy revealed cicatricial stenosis of the upper third of the esophagus (grades 23). A morphological study of the esophageal mucosa, which was performed after repeated endoscopic bougienage and a 5-month course of antisecretory therapy was deemed ineffective, revealed massive eosinophilic infiltration. Eosinophilic esophagitis was confirmed based on the anamnesis, clinical symptoms, and endoscopic and morphological data. An elimination diet and topical corticosteroids (budesonide) were prescribed. Following the treatment, the patient showed significant improvements. Subsequently, during the follow-up, a relapse of eosinophilic esophagitis was diagnosed twice (with an interval of 2.3 and 2.5 years), which required topical steroids (case 1) and proton pump inhibitors (case 2). This paper highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, involving an allergist-immunologist, pediatrician, gastroenterologist, endoscopist, and pathologist, in the management of eosinophilic esophagitis in children.