ASCHALASIA CARDIA IN INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD - AN INDIAN EXPERIENCE

Seven children with achalasia cardia, six of them infants, were seen o ver a 10-year period. In infantile achalasia, respiratory symptoms pre dominate and vomiting may easily be mistaken for gastroesophageal refl ux (GER). Vomiting of uncurdled milk is characteristic of achalasia. S ix children underwent esophagocardiomyotomy with good results in five. The procedure was transthoracic in two and transabdominal combined wi th an anterior fundoplication in the others. There was one post-operat ive death. Achalasia and alacrima were associated in two infants. One baby with this association also had a neurogenic bladder.