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Allergic eosinophilic esophagitis is an increasingly recognized disease in various parts of the world. The clinical presentation mimics other gastrointestinal diseases, especially gastroesophageal reflux disease, making endoscopic examination and histological evaluation of esophageal mucosal biopsies crucial to accurate diagnosis. The pathogenesis likely involves allergen-initiated, TH2-dependent, IL-5 mediated infiltration of eosinophilis into the esophageal mucosa. Therapies currently favored include dietary modifications and use of corticosteroids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pediatric recurrent abdominal pain is commonly associated with negative impacts on quality of life (QOL). Positive schemas (core beliefs about the self with subthemes of self-efficacy, optimism, trust, success, and worthiness) are a resilience factor that has not yet been examined within a pediatric recurrent pain context. This cross-sectional study examined (a) associations between positive schemas, pain coping, and youth QOL, and (b) exploratory analyses to investigate whether specific positive schema subthemes predicted QOL outcomes in youth with recurrent abdominal pain. Participants were 98 youth with recurrent abdominal pain (i.e., pain related to a disorder of gut–brain interaction [DGBI] or organic cause) who completed measures on positive schemas, QOL, and pain coping. Age and diagnostic status were controlled for in analyses. Positive schemas were significantly positively correlated with emotional, social, school, and overall QOL, as well as with approach and problem-focused avoidant coping, and significantly negatively correlated with emotion-focused coping. Worthiness was the strongest and only significant predictor of youth social functioning. Positive schemas may be an important cognitive resilience factor to consider within interventions for pediatric recurrent pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]