Eosinophilic Esophagitis in Children Needing Emergency Endoscopy for Foreign Body and Food Bolus Impaction
Pediatric Emergency Care, 07/11/2012

El–Matary W et al. – Considerable number of children with esophageal foreign body (FB)/food bolus impaction may have eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Routine sampling of esophageal mucosa at different levels during esophageal FB extraction may be considered.

• A retrospective chart review for all children who underwent endoscopic esophageal FB extraction at the Stollery Children’s Hospital between January 2005 and December 2008 was performed.
• The prevalence of EoE and characteristics of children who had EoE were documented.

• A total of 140 children (mean age, 4.98 [SD, 4]years; range, 0.3–16.9years; 81 boys) had esophageal FB/food impaction and needed endoscopic removal over the study period.
• Eleven children (mean age, 9.38 [SD, 5.35]years; range, 1.9–16.2years; 8 boys) were diagnosed with EoE (8%).
• Seven (39%) of 18 children with food impaction were diagnosed with EoE.
• Four (3%) of 122 children with esophageal foreign bodies other than food had EoE.