Pediatric achalasia
Achalasia (acha·la·sia) is a condition that affects the coordination of the esophagus making it difficult to eat.
What is pediatric achalasia?
Achalasia causes the lower esophageal sphincter, called the LES, to remain closed during swallowing, preventing the esophagus from propelling food toward the stomach. The normal function of peristalsis is also affected.
Risk factors
Achalasia is diagnosed in about 2,500 people in the United States every year. Only about 10% of cases occur in children.
What are the signs and symptoms of pediatric achalasia?
Common signs and symptoms may include:
Coughing spells after eating
Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
Halitosis and heartburn
Regurgitation of undigested food
Thoracic (chest) pain
How is pediatric achalasia diagnosed?
An upper gastrointestinal (GI) X-ray is the first step to obtain a general diagnosis of the disorder. It is usually followed by an esophageal manometry to measure esophageal tone, pressure, and coordinated motion of the esophagus.
An endoscopy is also used to get a close-up image of the problem.
How is pediatric achalasia treated?
Surgery
Most children with achalasia require surgery to relieve the high pressure at the LES. Dilation of the LES may offer some benefit, but often the results are short term. Technological advances in minimally invasive surgery make these procedures simpler and easier for patients.
Medication
Medications such as calcium-channel blockers, botulinum toxin and slow-release nitrates rarely provide long-term relief of symptoms.
For most patients, surgery and medication provide a moderate level of long-term dysphagia control. This will allow your child to have an improved quality of life.
Pediatric achalasia doctors and providers
Bradley Barth, MDPediatric Gastroenterologist
Adam Alder, MDPediatric Surgeon
Michele Alkalay, MDPediatric Gastroenterologist
Amal Aqul, MDPediatric Hepatologist
Sarah Barlow, MDPediatric Gastroenterologist
Nandini Channabasappa, MDPediatric Gastroenterologist
Natasha Corbitt, MDPediatric Surgeon
Diana Diesen, MDPediatric Surgeon
Lauren Gillory, MDPediatric Surgeon
Aakash Goyal, MDPediatric Gastroenterologist
Bhaskar Gurram, MDPediatric Gastroenterologist
Lauren Lazar, MDPediatric Gastroenterologist
Stephen Megison, MDPediatric Surgeon
Megha Mehta, MDPediatric Gastroenterologist
Joseph Murphy, MDPediatric Surgeon
Samir Pandya, MDPediatric Surgeon
Faisal Qureshi, MDPediatric Surgeon
Charina Ramirez, MDPediatric Gastroenterologist
Norberto Rodriguez-Baez, MDPediatric Hepatologist
Isabel Rojas Santamaria, MDPediatric Gastroenterologist
Mark Ryan, MDPediatric Surgeon
Rinarani Sanghavi, MDPediatric Gastroenterologist
Meghana Sathe, MDPediatric Gastroenterologist
Mhammad Gaith Semrin, MDPediatric Gastroenterologist
Luis Sifuentes-Dominguez, MDPediatric Gastroenterologist
David Troendle, MDPediatric Gastroenterologist
Shabina Walji-Virani, APRN, PNP-PCNurse Practitioner - Gastroenterology