[Dysphagia in children]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Clinical Case Reports

Background:

• Dysphagia in children presents a diagnostic challenge, often requiring differentiation between functional, anatomical, and psychogenic causes.
• Esophageal impaction of solid food is a significant symptom warranting thorough investigation.

Observation:

• Case 1: A 16-year-old boy with long-standing dysphagia, initially suspected to be psychogenic, was diagnosed with esophageal achalasia.
• Case 2: A 15-year-old girl presented with distal esophageal food impaction and was diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis.

Findings:

• Esophageal achalasia required repeated balloon dilatation for symptom management in the first case.
• Eosinophilic esophagitis in the second case responded well to acid suppression and budesonide treatment, achieving remission.

Implications:

• Highlights the diverse etiology of pediatric dysphagia, emphasizing the need to exclude organic conditions before considering psychogenic factors.
• Underscores the importance of recognizing 'red flag' symptoms like weight loss in pediatric dysphagia evaluations.