The mean age at diagnosis was 5.4 years. Most patients had leukocytosis (79.2%) and peripheral eosinophilia (91.7%) and had gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea (54.2%) and abdominal pain (45.8%). Eighteen patients (79.2%) were classified as mucosal layer disease. Five patients (20.8%) showed subserosal eosinophilic infiltration or eosinophilia in ascites or surgical biopsy, and 1 patient with muscular eosinophilic infiltration was revealed by surgical biopsy. Totally three patients had surgery to diagnose or treat EGE. Three patients showed gastroduodenal ulcers in endoscopic findings. Some patients had protein-losing enteropathy (25%). Anemia was in 13 patients (54.2%). Five patients (20.8%) had improved with only conservative managements such as hypoallergenic diet and food restriction. Other 19 patients (79.2%) needed steroids and 15 patients showed improvement finally. EGE relapsed in 8 patients (33.3%) and 4 patients had symptoms steadily despite steroid treatment. Association of steroid dependency or resistance with gastroduodenal ulcer is statistically significant.
To diagnose EGE, suspicious pediatric patients with peripheral eosinophilia and gastrointestinal symptoms should have endoscopic or surgical biopsy. Most patients have improved with conservative managements or steroids. However, some patients have steroid dependency or resistance, which are associated with gastroduodenal ulcer.