OLGU SUNUMU / CASE REPORT Gülhane Tıp Derg 2016;58:437-438 © Gülhane Tıp Fakültesi 2016 doi:10.5455/gulhane.168709 Esophageal in an immunocompetent child due to chronic gastroesophageal reflux: Case report

Necati Balamtekin(*), Mustafa Gulgun(*), Sami Eksert(**)

Introduction özet İmmünkompetan olan bir adolesanda kronik gastroözefageal reflüye bağlı Infections of the are rare and usually occur in özefageal kandidiazis: Olgu sunumu Özefageal kandidiazis, immünitesi normal olan çocuklarda çok nadir bir durumdur. immunocompromised patients. Fungus, herpes simplex virüs, Biz burada, kronik gastroözeageal reflüye bağlı özefageal kandidiazis tanısı konan and cytomegalovirus are frequently seen causative agents 13 yaşında erkek bir hasta sunduk. Hekimler, adolesanlarda kronik gastroözeageal for esophageal infections. Among fungus, species, reflünün nadir bir komplikasyonu olarak özefageal kandidiazis olabileceğinin farkında olmalıdırlar. especially and less frequently Candida tro- picalis, , Candida stellatoidea, are usually the Anahtar Kelimeler: özefageal kandidiazis, gastroözefageal reflü, adolesan cause of fungal (1). summary Although esophageal candidiasis is rare, it is common in im- Esophageal candidiasis is very rare in immunocompetent children. Here in, we presented an 13 year-old-boy with diagnosed as esophageal candidiasis due to munosupressive children during malignancy, , chronic gastroesophageal reflux. Physicians should be aware of the possibility of chronic or some infectious diseases and in children on long- esophageal candidiasis as a uncommon complication of chronic gastroesophageal term antibiotic treatment (2). Herein, we described an adoles- reflux in adolescents. cent with diagnosed as esophageal candidiasis due to chronic Key words: esophageal candidiasis, gastroesophageal reflux, adolescent gastroesophageal reflux. Case A 13-year-old girl was presented with epigastric pain for 5 years. Although she told us getting well her symptoms a little with antiacids, she has not been completely improved with an- tiacides for 6 months. No history of any drug except antiacids was found. Physical examination was normal. Laboratory stu- dies including complete blood count, liver and kidney function tests, erythrocyte sedimentation rate were within normal limits. There was no blood in the stool. The abdominal ultrasound imaging was normal. Her immune system evaluation was nor- mal. The 24-hour pH monitorization showed a moderate gast- roesophageal reflux. The gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed exudate, obvious mucosal erythema and early ulceration in the mucosa (Figure 1). Histopathology corrected the diagnosis as

*Gulhane Medical Faculty, Department of Pediatrics, Ankara/Turkey **Gulhane Medical Faculty, Department of Anesthesiology, Ankara/Turkey

Reprint request: Mustafa Gülgün Gulhane Medical Faculty, Department of Pediatrics, Ankara/Turkey ([email protected]) Figure 1: Whitish pseudo-membranes and erosions in esophagus by Date submitted: Sep 08, 2014 • Date accepted: Nov 01 2015 • Online publication date: 30 Aralık 2016 endoscopic examination

Kronik reflüye bağlı özefageal kandidiazis • 437 candidiasis. Hyphae was detected with potassium hydroxide, The treatment of esophageal candidiasis includes precauti- and both hyphae and in the hyperkeratotic squamous ons and antifungal treatments. First, all the possible risk fac- epithelium of the esophagus were shown by Hematoxylin and tors, such as immunosuppressives should be minimized. Anti- eosin staining. Helicobacter pylori were not found in the histo- fungal therapy for esophageal candidiasis can be divided into pathologic examination. The treatment of alginic acid oral sus- topical treatment with , clotrimazole, and miconazole pension (4x10-20 ml), lansoprazole oral tablet (1x30 mg) and and oral or parenteral treatment with , flucytosine, nystatin oral suspension (4x500.000 units) was started. On the , and . The topical approach is not 4th week of treatment, she was completely well and symptom- effective in the esophageal candidiasis and oral or parente- free and had no lesion in her gastrointestinal endoscopy. ral fluconazole is the preferred treatment (1). We administe- red oral antifungal treatment for esophageal candidiasis in our Discussion case. As with most fungal infections, candidal infections usually Although esophageal candidiasis is very uncommon in im- occur due to a defect in the host immune defense mechanisms munocompetent children, it should be in mind that esophage- such as damaged mucocutaneous barriers (wound, burns, ul- al candidiasis may be seen as a rare complication of chronic cerations), granulocytopenia, chronic granulomatous disease, gastroesophageal reflux in immunocompetent adolescents. myeloperoxidase deficiency, hypocomplementemia, hypo- gammaglobulinemia, usage of immunosuppressive drugs, HIV References infection, impaired mucocutaneous protective bacterial flora. Any condition affecting functions of the immune system as 1. Kang HR, Kwon YH, Kim YJ. A case of esophageal can- mentioned above are significant risk factors for fungal disea- didiasis in an adolescent who had frequently received ses. In our case, it is possible that the esophageal candidiasis budesonide nebulizing therapy. Pediatr Gastroenterol occured because of the altered mucosal integrity which is a Hepatol Nutr. 2013; 16: 185-189. part of innate defense system by the chronic gastric reflux over 2. Hasosah MY, Showail M, Al-Sahafi A, Satti M, Jacobson time (1). K. Esophageal candidiasis in an immunocompetent girl. Esophageal candidiasis without underlying disease are not World J Pediatr. 2009; 5: 152-154. common. Simon et al. (3) reported an adult case with asthma 3. Simon MR, Houser WL, Smith KA, Long PM. Esopha- complicated with esophageal candidiasis due to inhaled ste- geal candidiasis as a complication of inhaled corticoste- roid treatment. Sood et al. (4) presented two case with esop- roids. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 1997; 79: 333-338. hageal candidiasis following omeprazole therapy. To the best our knowledge, this is the first case with esophageal candidia- 4. Sood A, Sharma M, Jain NP, Chawla LS, Kumar R. sis due to chronic gastroesophageal reflux. It may be resulted Esophageal candidiasis following omeprazole therapy: from susceptibility to fungus due to chronic irritation via gastric a report of two cases. Indian J Gastroenterol. 1995; 14: ingredient. 71-72. In addition, esophageal candidiasis is not so innocent clini- 5. Kimura H, Kurachi M, Tsukioka Y, Minami M, Itou M, cal entity. Kimura et al. (5) determined a 74 years-old patient Fujii H, Nakanishi K. secondary to with esophageal candidiasis resulting in esophageal stricture candidiasis without underlying disease. JGastroenterol. despite antifungal treatment. 1995; 30: 508-151.

438 • Aralık 2016 • Gülhane Tıp Derg Balamtekin ve ark.