A Case of Esophageal Achalasia in a 10-Year-Old Girl with Persistent Asthma / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

ABSTRACT

Achalasia is a primary esophageal motor disorder, which is a rare disease with an estimated prevalence of 0.5-1 per 100,000 general population. The typical symptoms are vomiting, dysphagia and weight loss, but the respiratory symptoms are often presented in the 20-30% of the patients. The respiratory symptoms are known to be caused by the regurgitation or aspiration of the undigested food. Choking, recurrent pneumonia nocturnal cough are common and bronchiectasis, lung abscess and atelectasis also have been reported. The treatment of achalasia aimed at improving esophageal peristalsis by reducing pressure at the lower esophageal sphincter. We experienced a case of esophageal achalasia coincidentally found in a 10-year-old girl who was admitted with the exacerbation of asthma. She had pneumatic dilatation and her asthma symptoms including nocturnal cough much improved.