小児好酸球性食道炎の特徴

Characteristics of Eosinophilic Esophagitis in Childhood

要旨●好酸球性食道炎（EoE）は欧米で患者数の急激な増加がみられている．本邦では新生児〜乳児の消化管アレルギーおよび好酸球性胃腸炎（EGE）の増加は経験されているところであるが，小児の純粋なEoEは症例報告が散見される程度である．EGEと比べてEoEは，食道に炎症が限局しているため，PPI内服治療や吸入用ステロイド薬嚥下治療などの局所治療が行いやすく，長期的副作用を出さずに治療効果を得ることが可能である．小児EoEの欧米の報告をもとに，その特徴を理解する．

　In Western countries, the number of patients with EoE（eosinophilic esophagitis）has sharply increased. In Japan, there have been increases in gastrointestinal allergies in newborns and infants and in eosinophilic gastroenteritis. However, pediatric EoE is limited to case reports' level. Compared with eosinophilic gastroenteritis, the inflammation is confined to the esophagus, and topical treatments such as proton pump inhibitors and swallowing of inhaled corticosteroids are available, which might provide therapeutic effect without long-term side effects. Here the characteristics of EoE are explained based on the European and American reports on pediatric EoE.