title: Eosinophilic Esophagitis: Demographic, Clinical, Endoscopic, Histologic, and Atopic Characteristics of Children and Teenagers in a Region in Central Spain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an increasingly prevalent chronic inflammatory disease of the esophagus with an immunoallergic etiology. Few studies have been published on EoE in children and adolescents. The objective of this study was to analyze the demographic, clinical, serologic, endoscopic-histologic, and atopic characteristics of pediatric patients with EoE and to identify atopic and digestive comorbidities.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective observational study in children and adolescents (<16 years) assessed in a specialized multidisciplinary EoE unit in a tertiary referral hospital in a central region of Spain between 2011 and 2015.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-five patients were included in the study. Twenty-eight (80%) were male. The mean age was 9.6 years, 83% were atopic, and 28% reported a family history of atopy. The most common symptom was dysphagia (51%). Eosinophilia was detected in the blood of 60% of patients. Eosinophil cationic protein and total IgE were elevated in 88% and 77% of patients, respectively. The most frequent endoscopic finding was linear grooves (57%). Skin tests with aeroallergens were positive in 82% of patients (pollen 62% and food 60%). The main atopic comorbidities were asthma (48%) and rhinoconjunctivitis (37%). Digestive diseases were more often associated with gastritis and Helicobacter pylori infection (17%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results are similar to those previously reported. EoE is more common in boys and in individuals with a history of atopy and sensitization to airborne allergens and food. These results support the consideration of EoE as an atopic disease and underline the important role of allergists in early diagnosis and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Allergy Department, Hospital General Universitario de Ciudad Real, Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gómez Torrijos
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Department, Hospital General Universitario de Ciudad Real, Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sánchez Miranda
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Department, Hospital General Universitario de Ciudad Real, Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Donado Palencia
authors.affiliation: Allergy Department, Hospital General Universitario de Ciudad Real, Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Castro Jimenez
authors.affiliation: Digestive Department, Hospital General Universitario de Ciudad Real, Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodriguez Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Allergy Department, Hospital General Universitario de Ciudad Real, Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mendez Díaz
authors.affiliation: Allergy Department, Hospital General Universitario de Ciudad Real, Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moreno Lozano
authors.affiliation: Allergy Department, Hospital General Universitario de Ciudad Real, Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: García Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D057765:Eosinophilic Esophagitis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012698:Serologic Tests; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012882:Skin Tests; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Allergens; Atopic comorbidities; Children; Digestive comorbidities; Eosinophilic esophagitis; Esophagoscopy; Teenagers