pattern of dysphagia in children

ABSTRACT

Difficulty in swallowing is not uncommon among children and yet little information is available in the literature. We report our experience on the pattern of this condition. We extracted data from the medical records of 42 children with dysphagia on age at presentation, nationality, gender, and final diagnosis. From 1993 to 2002, 96% of 42 children presenting with dysphagia were Saudi nationals, ranging in age from 3 months to 18 years, with a male to female ratio of 10.6. An etiologic diagnosis was found in 30 children [72%]. Esophagitis, esophageal strictures and motility disorders were the most common causes of dysphagia, occurring in 16 [38%], 7 [17%], and 4 [10%] children, respectively. Two children had esophageal webs and one had an esophageal ring. Age-related analysis indicated that most of the cases of esophagitis [11/16, 69%] and strictures [5/7, 71%] occurred in young children whereas most nondemonstrable causes occurred in older children [9/12, 75%]. This report documents a pattern of dysphagia in Saudi Arab children that is similar to descriptions from other countries