title: Congenital esophageal stenosis diagnosed in an infant at 9 month of age.
abstract: Esophageal stenosis is a relatively uncommon condition in pediatrics and requires an accurate diagnostic approach. Here we report the case of a 9-month old female infant who presented intermittent vomiting, dysphagia and refusal of solid foods starting after weaning. She was treated for gastroesophageal reflux. At first, radiological investigation suggested achalasia, while esophagoscopy revelaed a severe congenital esophageal stenosis at the distal third of the esophagus. She underwent four endoscopic balloon dilatations that then allowed her to swallow solid food with intermittent mild dysphagia. After 17 months of esomeprazole treatment off therapy impedance-pH monitoring was normal. At 29 months of follow-up the child is asymptomatic and eats without problems.Infants with dysphagia and refusal of solid foods may have undiagnosed medical conditions that need treatment. Many disorders can cause esophageal luminal stricture; in the pediatric age the most common are peptic or congenital. Careful assessment with endoscopy is needed to diagnose these conditions early and referral to a pediatric gastroenterologic unit may be necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, University of Torino, Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Torino, Italy. francesco.savino@unito.it.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Savino
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, University of Torino, Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Torino, Italy. valentina.tarasco@libero.it.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tarasco
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, University of Torino, Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Torino, Italy. viola.serena@libero.it.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Viola
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, University of Torino, Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Torino, Italy. manulocatelli@libero.it.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Locatelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, University of Torino, Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Torino, Italy. miriam.sorrenti@unito.it.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sorrenti
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit - G. Gaslini Institute for Children, Genova, Italy. arrigobarabino@ospedale-gaslini.ge.it.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barabino
mesh_terms: D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004106:Dilatation / Q000379:methods; D064098:Esomeprazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors; D064098:Esomeprazole