[Epidemiological, clinical and diagnostic characterization of children with eosinophilic gastroenteropathy. A retrospective study of three high complexity health institutions].

Eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders (EGID) are uncommon. In Colombia there are no studies in the pediatric population.

To describe the epidemiological, clinical and diagnostic characteristics of a pediatric population with EGID.

Observational, retrospective study in children aged between 0 and 12 years, assessed in three high complexity hospitals in Medellín, Colombia, between 2010 and 2015.

Out of 151 children, 74 (49%) had eosinophilic esophagitis, 35 (23.2%) had eosinophilic gastritis, 20 (13.2%), eosinophilic duodenitis, and 65 (43%) eosinophilic ileitis or colitis; 60.9% were males, and median age was 5 years; 66.9% had a history of allergic disease, and 78.8% had involvement of a single segment of the gastrointestinal tract. Main symptoms were abdominal pain and vomiting. Maximum eosinophil count per high power field (HPF) in the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, ileum and colon was 34, 21, 42, 45 and 60, respectively. Peripheral eosinophilia was more common in patients with esophageal and stomach involvement. The most sensitizing foods were egg, milk, shrimp, wheat and chicken. Proton pump inhibitors, steroids or immunosuppressants, as well as food-exclusion diets were used.

EGID can compromise multiple segments, and its symptoms are unspecific; multidisciplinary management is required.