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Infectious Esophagitis

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Textbook of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

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Abstract

Infectious esophagitis in children is usually an indicator of a primary or secondary immunodeficiency. In immunocompetent children, infectious esophagitis is rare and frequently associated with conditions that compromise esophageal defence mechanisms. The spectrum of esophageal infections has changed over the past few decades. Infectious esophagitis was rare before the advent of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and posttransplant immunosuppressive treatment regimens. The clinical approach in evaluating a suspected infectious esophagitis is guided by the presence of any underlying immunosuppression, the presenting symptoms, and the physical findings. A key diagnostic challenge in children with infectious esophagitis is ascertaining the role of an isolated microorganism in disease causation as many purported pathogens are commensals that may be found even in healthy individuals.

Opportunistic esophageal infections heralded by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and medication-induced immunosuppression have been largely reversed by the efficacy of new drugs and improvements in transplant management. Nevertheless, socioeconomic barriers and continued use of immunosuppressive therapy in children with a variety of diseases will likely spread the morbidity from infectious esophagitis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Gastroenterology and Liver Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, University Hospital Umberto I, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy

    Salvatore Cucchiara, Giovanni Di Nardo & Salvatore Oliva

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  1. Salvatore Cucchiara
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  2. Giovanni Di Nardo
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  3. Salvatore Oliva
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Correspondence to Salvatore Cucchiara .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Stefano Guandalini

  2. Clinical Director Child Health King’s College Hospital, Professor and Director Pediatric Liver, GI and Nutrition Center, London, United Kingdom

    Anil Dhawan

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Hebrew University Hadassah Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel

    David Branski

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Cucchiara, S., Di Nardo, G., Oliva, S. (2016). Infectious Esophagitis. In: Guandalini, S., Dhawan, A., Branski, D. (eds) Textbook of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17169-2_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17169-2_8

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