title: Chronic eosinophilic ascites in a very young child.
abstract: A case of chronic eosinophilic ascites with onset in early infancy is described. An intensive diagnostic work-up ruled out other known causes of ascites in childhood. The final diagnosis was made at 2 years of age when a large number of eosinophils was detected in the ascitic fluid. The outcome was complicated by an ex vacuo intraperitoneal haemorrhage. Steroids were able to control the disease only after complete aspiration (1600 ml) of the ascitic fluid. On discontinuation of treatment, peritoneal inflammation recurred indicating steroid-dependency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  eosinophilic ascites, a very rare disorder in children, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of even very young children presenting with ascites.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Gastroenterology Unit, G. Gaslini Institute, L.go G. Gaslini 5, 16148 Genoa, Italy. arrigobarabino@ospedale-gaslini.ge.it
authors.forename: Arrigo Vittorio
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Barabino
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Castellano
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gandullia
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Torrente
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guida
authors.forename: Gian Michele
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Magnano
mesh_terms: D001201:Ascites / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004802:Eosinophilia; D005759:Gastroenteritis; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008002:Libya; D008297:Male; D019152:Paracentesis; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed