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Updated: Oct 14, 2025
Author Spotlight: Investigating the Pathophysiology of Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Published on: May 10, 2024
Recurrent abdominal pain, peritoneal effusion, and eosinophilia in a boy aged 17 years
Kun Yang1, Rong-Hua Luo1, Yi-Lai Sun
1Department of Pediatrics,Tai'an City Central Hospital, Tai'an, Shandong 271000, China.
Insights
Eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease (EGID) can cause chronic abdominal pain and diarrhea in children. Diagnosis involves identifying eosinophil infiltration in gastrointestinal tissues, often aided by elevated peripheral blood eosinophils.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Immunology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease (EGID) is a rare chronic inflammatory condition.
- Symptoms can include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting, often mimicking other gastrointestinal disorders.
- Diagnosis can be challenging due to non-specific symptoms and the need for tissue eosinophilia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the diagnostic challenges and key indicators for eosinophilic gastroenteritis in pediatric patients.
- To emphasize the importance of considering EGID in children with persistent gastrointestinal symptoms and eosinophilia.
- To report a case of successful management of eosinophilic gastroenteritis.
Main Methods:
- Case report of a 17-year-old male with a 3-year history of abdominal pain and diarrhea.
- Diagnostic workup included color Doppler ultrasound, routine blood tests, bone marrow morphology, ascites examination, and gastrointestinal endoscopy with biopsy.
- Treatment involved glucocorticoids and dietary avoidance.
Main Results:
- The patient presented with recurrent abdominal pain, diarrhea, and marked peripheral and tissue eosinophilia.
- Gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed eosinophil infiltration in the stomach.
- The patient showed significant improvement with glucocorticoid therapy and dietary modifications, with no recurrence during a one-year follow-up.
Conclusions:
- Persistent gastrointestinal symptoms in children, especially with elevated peripheral eosinophils, warrant investigation for EGID.
- Endoscopic biopsy confirming eosinophil infiltration is crucial for diagnosing EGID.
- A combination of medical treatment and dietary management can effectively control EGID symptoms.
Abstract:
A boy, aged 17 years, was admitted again due to abdominal pain, diarrhea, and eosinophilia for 3 years, which worsened for 3 days. Three years ago, the boy suffered from abdominal pain and diarrhea after eating yogurt; color Doppler ultrasound showed a large amount of peritoneal effusion, and routine blood test, bone marrow cell morphology, and ascites histological examination showed a large number of eosinophils. Three days ago, he was admitted again due to abdominal pain and diarrhea. The gastrointestinal endoscopy showed eosinophil infiltration in the angle of stomach. The boy was diagnosed with eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease (eosinophilic gastroenteritis). He was improved after the treatment with glucocorticoids and dietary avoidance, and no recurrence was observed during the one-year follow-up. It is concluded that for children who attend the hospital due to gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea, if there is an increase in peripheral blood eosinophils, it is necessary to consider the possibility of eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease, and eosinophil infiltration and abnormal eosinophil count in gastrointestinal tissue based on endoscopic biopsy may be the key to diagnosis.
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