Differences in Features and Course of Mucosal Type Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis between Korean Infants and Children

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE) is a disorder characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of the bowel wall and various gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations. This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of EGE in infants and children. A total of 22 patients were diagnosed with histologic EGE (hEGE) or possible EGE (pEGE). Serum specific IgE levels, peripheral eosinophil counts, and endoscopic biopsies were carried out. In the hEGE group (n = 13), initial symptoms included hematemesis, abdominal pain, and vomiting. Three of the subjects had normal endoscopic findings. Eight patients were categorized into the infant group and 5 into the child group. All patients in the infant group showed clinical improvement after switching from cow's milk feeding to special formula or breast feeding. The infant group showed a higher eosinophil count in the gastric mucosal biopsy than the child group. In the pEGE group (n = 9) initial symptoms included hematemesis, abdominal pain, and vomiting. Seven patients in this group showed a good response to treatment with restriction of the suspected foods and/or the administration of ketotifen. Both hEGE and pEGE groups showed clinical improvement after restriction of suspected foods in the majority of cases and also showed a similar clinical course. EGE should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with chronic abdominal pain, vomiting, and hematemesis of unknown cause. The infant group may have a better prognosis than the child group if treated properly.