Abstract:
Eosinophilic oesophagitis has been described in patients from all ethnic backgrounds in studies originating in all continents apart from Africa. A cohort of 8 patients (3 boys, 5 girls) identified at Red Cross Hospital during 2009-2010 is described. Average age 7 years (1yr 11 months to 15 years 10 months). Ethnicity 2 caucasian, 5 mixed, 1 Black African. Age of onset: mean 3 years, median 1 year 4 months. Age of diagnosis mean 6years 3 months, median 3 years 9 months. Time to diagnosis: mean 3 years 3 months, median 6 months, IQ range 5 months to 6 years. Presenting symptoms in order of prevalence are reflux (7/8), long time to eat (6/8), difficult swallowing (6/8), growth failure (5/8), food refusal (5/8) and painful swallowing (4/8).
Reference:
Levin, M., & Motala, C. (2011). Eosinophilic oesophagitis in Cape Town, South Africa. Clinical and Translational Allergy, 1(suppl 1), 26.