[Young man with intermittent dysphagia]

Endoscopic findings of an 18-year old man with intermittent dysphagia showed widespread white exudations of the oesophagus. First misinterpreted as oesophageal candidiasis the mucosal biopsies revealed the histological features of a severe eosinophilic oesophagitis. Under treatment with topical steroids the symptoms dissolved. The control endoscopy showed a histological remission with absence of eosinophilic granulocytes, too. The eosinophilic oesophagitis is a rare allergy-like inflammation of the oesophagus especially seen in young men with increasing incidence. Without treatment the long-term risk of eosinophilic oesophagitis is the induction of severe oesophageal strictures.