title: [Eosinophilic esophagitis: an underevaluated condition. Our experience].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this review is to present our experience in this emerging disease and mainly help improve diagnostic suspicion.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the literature in order to analyze the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of eosinophilic esophagitis (EE), we describe 4 cases diagnosed in our hospital during 2011 after an emergency admission by food impaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The age of our patients was 7-11 years, males in all cases. All patients had a history of allergies, and the impaction had been preceded by episodes of dysphagia. In esophagoscopy we observed nonspecific macroscopic findings. The results of biopsies showed the presence of an infiltration of eosinophils in the mucosa over 15 per high power field. All patients were referred to the gastroenterology section of our hospital.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Eosinophilic esophagitis is a primary disease of esophagus, defined as the presence of symptoms of esophageal dysfunction (mainly dysphagia and food impaction), associated to at least one esophageal biopsy with more than 15 eosinophils in high-power field and the exclusion of gastroesophageal reflux. The diagnosis is clinical, endoscopic and pathologic. It requires an upper endoscopy to evaluate characteristic findings and biopsies for histology. Current treatments include diet therapy based on avoiding exposure to certain food allergens.
authors: Servicio de Cirugía Pediátrica, Unidad de Gestión de Cirugía Pediátrica, Hospital Materno-infantil, Hospital Regional Universitario Carlos Haya, Málaga. manueljessr@gmail.com
authors: M J
authors: MJ
authors: Ruiz Catena
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Díaz Diñeiro
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Ibáñez Cerrato
authors: M R
authors: MR
authors: Chamorro Juárez
authors: N
authors: N
authors: García Soldevila
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D057765:Eosinophilic Esophagitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male