Eosinophilic Esophagitis in Children in North-Eastern Poland

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Allergy and Immunology
• Gastrointestinal Pathology

Background:

• Global rise in pediatric eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) incidence.
• EoE diagnosis relies on endoscopic and histopathological evaluation.
• Understanding EoE clinical and endoscopic characteristics in children is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the incidence, clinical, biochemical, and endoscopic features of pediatric EoE.
• To compare EoE cases with non-eosinophilic esophagitis (non-EoE) in children.
• To identify differentiating factors between EoE and non-EoE in pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

• Single-center retrospective study.
• Inclusion of newly diagnosed pediatric patients with EoE and non-EoE (2013-2018).
• Analysis based on endoscopic and histopathological results.

Main Results:

• 36 out of 433 children (8.31%) diagnosed with EoE, median age 10 years.
• Male predominance and higher allergy prevalence in the EoE group.
• Dysphagia was the only significant differentiating symptom (p=0.006); endoscopic findings like linear fissures, decreased vascularity, trachealization, and exudates were associated with EoE.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric EoE findings in North-Eastern Poland align with international reports.
• Symptoms are generally nonspecific for EoE.
• Dysphagia and specific endoscopic lesions are key for differentiating pediatric EoE from non-EoE.