| Title | Achalasia mimicking prepubertal anorexia nervosa. | | Author(s) | Richterich A, Brunner R, Resch F | | Institution | Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Heidelberg, Blumenstrasse 8, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany. | | Source | Int J Eat Disord 2003 Apr; 33(3):356-9. | | MeSH | Age of Onset
Anorexia Nervosa
Anti-Dyskinesia Agents
Botulinum Toxins
Child
Diagnosis, Differential
Dilatation
Esophageal Achalasia
Female
Humans
Pneumonia
Puberty
Treatment Outcome
Weight Loss
| | Abstract | A 9-year-old girl presents for continuing weight loss of 10 kg over the course of 1 year. Medical history showed three episodes of pneumonia requiring hospital admission in the 6 months before presentation and 4 months of weekly psychotherapy for anorexia nervosa. A thorough history of eating behavior and a review of systems revealed not only typical aspects of prepubertal anorexia nervosa but also vomiting at night while asleep, difficulty drinking liquids, epigastric pain, and a frequent experience of "a lump in the throat"; these symptoms were not suggestive of a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa but rather of esophageal achalasia. The patient was transferred to the Department of Pediatrics, and a diagnosis of esophageal achalasia was made by chest x-ray and barium swallow. After dilatation and botulinum toxin application, the patient regained weight easily and was discharged in stable condition. In this case, esophageal achalasia mimicked prepubertal anorexia nervosa. | | Language | eng | | Pub Type(s) | Journal Article
| | PubMed ID | 12655633 |
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