The pattern of dysphagia in children.

• Main Authors: El Mouzan Mohammad, Abdullah Asaad, Al-Mofleh Ibrahim
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre 2005-01-01
• Series: Annals of Saudi Medicine
• Online Access: http://www.saudiannals.net/article.asp?issn=0256-4947;year=2005;volume=25;issue=6;spage=463;epage=465;aulast=El

<b>Background: </b>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. <b>Methods: </b>We extracted data from the medical records of 42 children with dysphagia on age at presentation, nationality, gender, and final diagnosis. <b>Results: </b>From 1993 to 2002, 96&#x0025; 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 1:0.6. An etiologic diagnosis was found in 30 children (72&#x0025;). Esophagitis, esophageal strictures and motility disorders were the most common causes of dysphagia, occurring in 16 (38&#x0025;), 7 (17&#x0025;), and 4 (10&#x0025;) 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&#x0025;) and strictures (5/7, 71&#x0025;) occurred in young children whereas most nondemonstrable causes occurred in older children (9/12, 75&#x0025;). <b>Conclusion: </b>This report documents a pattern of dysphagia in Saudi Arab children that is similar to descriptions from other countries.