Achalasia of the Esophagus in Childhood FREE

OLIVER A. SORSDAHL, MD; BRIT B. GAY, MD

[+] Author Affiliations

Received for publication Oct 19, 1964.

Reprint requests to The Henrietta Egleston Hospital for Children, 1405 Clifton Rd, NE, Atlanta, Ga 30333 (Dr. Gay).

Am J Dis Child. 1965;109(2):141-146. doi:10.1001/archpedi.1965.02090020143009.

Text Size: A A A

Published online

Article

References

Comments

ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT | REFERENCES

ACHALASIA is rare in childhood. Only 5% of patients with achalasia have the onset of symptoms before 14 years of age, and of this group, only half of the patients have the diagnosis of achalasia established by 14 years of age.^7,8 Achalasia can occur in the very young.¹⁰ One case has been described in an infant 4 weeks of age.⁴ There is no apparent peak age for onset of symptoms in childhood achalasia.

The present communication reports the clinical and roentgenologic features of three cases of childhood achalasia along with a brief review of the literature

Report of Cases Case 1.—Patient 1, an 8½-year-old white male, was admitted to The Henrietta Egleston Hospital for Children on Nov 8, 1938, with chief complaints of vomiting and loss of weight. He had apparently been in good health until 1½ years previously at the age of 7 when his appetite

REFERENCES

ABSTRACT | REFERENCES

Birnberg, T. L.: Cardiospasm in New-Born Infant , Amer J Dis Child 38:1183, 1929;.

Bockus, H. L.: Gastroenterology , ed 2, Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Company, 1963;, vol 1.

Ferriera-Santos, R.: Aperistalsis of Esophagus and Colon (Megaesophagus and Megacolon) Etiologically Related to Chagas' Disease , Amer J Dig Dis 6:700, 1961;.

Girdany, B. R.: Esophagus in Infancy: Congenital and Acquired Disease , Radiol Clin N Amer 1:557, 1963;.

Haas, S. V.: Relief of Cardiospasm in Newborn by Administration of Atropine Sulfate , Amer J Dis Child 62:1118, 1941;.

Kirkpatrick, J. A.; Cresson, S. L.; and Pilling, G. P., IV: Motor Activity of Esophagus in Association With Esophageal Atresia and Tracheoesophageal Fistula , Amer J Roentgen 86:884, 1961;.

Moersch, H. J.: Cardiospasm in Infancy and in Childhood , Amer J Dis Child 38:294, 1929;.

Olsen, A. M.; Holman, C. B.; and Andersen, H. A.: Diagnosis of Cardiospasm , Dis Chest 23:477, 1953;.

Paul, A. T. S., and Pallowela, G. D. S.: Unusual Forms of Achalasia Cardia and Associated Neuromuscular Disorders of Esophagus , Postgrad Med J 37:514, 1961;.

Payne, S. W.; Ellis, F. H., Jr., and Olsen, A. M.: Treatment of Cardiospasm (Achalasia of Esophagus) in Children , Surgery 50:731, 1960;.

Redo, S. F., and Bauer, C. H.: Management of Achalasia in Infancy and Childhood , Surgery 53:263, 1963;.

Scherb, J., and Arias, I. M.: Achalasia of Esophagus and Chagas' Disease , Gastroenterology 43: 212, 1962;.

Schultz, E. H., Jr.: Achalasia in Children as Cause of Recurrent Pulmonary Disease , J Pediat 59:522, 1961;.

Segar, L. H., and Stoeffler, W.: Cardiospasm in New-Born Infant , Amer J Dis Child 39:354, 1930;.

Swenson, O., and Oeconomopoulos, C. T.: Achalasia of Esophagus in Children , J Thorac Cardiov Surg 41:49, 1961;.

Thomson, J.: Neuromuscular Incoordination at Cardia in Newborn , Arch Dis Child 25:52, 1950;.

van der Bogert, F.: "Cardiospasm" in NewBorn , Arch Pediat 50:585, 1933;.

Figures

Tables

Interactive Graphics

Video

Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature

Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal