Journal of Allergy & Therapy

Abstract

Do Pinworms Cause Eosinophilic Esophagitis?

Russell J. Hopp, Elena Lewis and Sharad D Kunnath

Eosinophils are found in the gastrointestinal tract with the exception of the esophagus. Eosinophilic esophagitis (EE) clinically results in heartburn, abdominal pain and vomiting, and most children with EE are atopic. Diagnosis is supported by esophageal biopsy findings of >15 eosinophil’s/hpf. Enterobius vermicularis infection is characteristically mild. However, there are case reports of eosinophilic ileocolitis, gastroenteritis and appendicitis secondary to pinworm infestation, but no case reports of EE associated with pinworm infestation have been reported.