Eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases (EGIDs) comprise a group of chronic, inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, that are characterized, clinically, by symptoms related to the dysfunction of the involved segment(s) of the GI tract, and histologically, by dense eosinophilic inflammation, in the absence of an identifiable secondary cause. The group of EGIDs comprises eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), eosinophilic gastritis (EG), eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE), and eosinophilic colitis (EC). EoE is the most common and the best described EGID compared to EG, EGE, and EC. The clinical presentation of the EGIDs differs depending on the location and the extent of the eosinophilic infiltration in the GI tract, as well as its depth through the bowel wall. In the absence of biological markers, the diagnosis is based on the combination of clinical symptoms with the histological features of EGIDs, after the exclusion of secondary causes of eosinophilic inflammation of the GI tract. Treatment is individualized and includes elimination diets (mainly empiric or elemental) and/or drugs, according to the involved GI segment: proton pump inhibitors or local steroids in EoE; local or oral systemic steroids in EG/EGE limited to the duodenum; oral systemic steroids in EGE with lower small intestine and/or colon involvement. In patients with EoE, maintenance treatment with lower doses may be considered following histological remission with the means of drugs. In patients treated with elimination diets, disease food triggers identified during food reintroduction need to be further eliminated. Esophageal stenosis despite medical treatment requires endoscopic dilation, while the use of thiopurines or anti-TNF drugs may be considered in refractory or steroid-dependent EGID (other than EoE). The aim of this review is to provide the available evidence on each of the above disorders, to aid clinicians to interpret the clinical manifestations and the laboratory findings and choose the best available treatment option.

The efficacy of oral rehydration solution (ORS) enriched with Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 and zinc in infants with acute gastroenteritis, is poorly defined. The aim of this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, was to assess the efficacy of an ORS enriched with Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 and zinc (ORS⁺Lr&Z) in well-nourished, non-hospitalized infants with acute diarrhoea. Fifty one infants with acute diarrhoea were randomly assigned to receive either ORS⁺Lr&Z (28 infants, mean ± SD age 1.7 ± 0.7 years, 21 males), or standard ORS (ORS⁻Lr&Z; 23 infants, mean ± SD age 1.8 ± 0.7 years, 16 males). Stools volume and consistency were recorded pre- and posttreatment using the Amsterdam Infant Stool Scale and were compared between the two groups, as well as lost work/day care days, drug administration and need for hospitalization. Both groups showed reduction in the severity of diarrhoea on day two (p < 0.001) while, all outcomes showed a trend to be better in the ORS⁺Lr&Z group, without reaching statistical significance, probably due to the relatively small number of patients. No adverse effects were recorded. In conclusion, both ORS were effective in managing acute diarrhoea in well-nourished, non-hospitalized infants. ORS enriched with L. reuteri DSM 17938 and zinc was well tolerated with no adverse effects.

Chronic diseases (CDs) requiring dietary management, including type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), cystic fibrosis (CF), and gastrointestinal diseases (GIDs), often require sustained dietary management and may be associated with an increased risk of disordered eating and eating-disorder psychopathology. However, factors associated with eating-disorder psychopathology in children and adolescents with CDs requiring dietary management remain insufficiently understood. This study aimed to examine the psychosocial characteristics of children and adolescents with CDs requiring dietary management, compare different diagnoses, and identify factors associated with eating-disorder psychopathology in a Greek pediatric sample. The study included 90 children and adolescents aged 9–17 years (63.3% girls) diagnosed with T1DM, CF, or GIDs along with their parents. Participants were recruited from specialized units of “Aghia Sophia” Children’s Hospital, Athens, Greece. Eating-disorder psychopathology was assessed using the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire-6.0 (EDE-Q 6.0), while emotional and behavioral difficulties, health-related quality of life, and parental psychopathology were evaluated using the SDQ, KIDSCREEN-27, and DASS-21 questionnaires, respectively. Eating-disorder psychopathology above the screening cutoff was identified in 14.4% of participants, all of whom were girls. No significant differences in psychosocial indicators were found across diagnoses. In exploratory multivariable analyses, female sex, higher BMI, and lower psychological well-being were associated with higher EDE-Q global scores. These exploratory findings identify candidate correlates that require confirmation in larger, longitudinal studies and may inform the future development of age-appropriate and disease-sensitive screening approaches.