Infants and children with achalasia have difficulty swallowing food. This rare disorder occurs when the esophagus — which is the “food pipe” between the mouth and the stomach — narrows and tightens at the bottom. As a result, food and liquids cannot easily pass into the stomach.

Having achalasia is distressing for children and their parents. Your child may lose weight, choke or vomit more than usual.

Fortunately, achalasia can be successfully treated in most children with state-of-the-art, minimally invasive procedures. While not a cure, these treatments will allow your child to swallow food and get the necessary nutrients for proper growth and development.

Schedule a Pediatric GI Appointment

At the University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital, we are highly experienced in managing all types of swallowing disorders in infants and children, including achalasia. At our Pediatric Aerodigestive Clinic, patients benefit from our team approach to managing children with complex disorders of the upper digestive tract, upper airway and lungs. Our pediatric specialists — gastroenterologists, otolaryngologists, pulmonologists, surgeons and speech therapists — work together to accurately diagnose your child’s condition and provide treatment in a timely manner.  

At Comer Children’s we believe in a family approach to care. Our clinicians truly care about what parents want for their children and what children want for themselves. We work together with families to ensure we are on the same page and doing all we can to help your child experience a healthy childhood.  

 

Common Questions about Pediatric Achalasia

Meet Our Pediatric Achalasia Physician Team

Request an Appointment

We are currently experiencing a high volume of inquiries, leading to delayed response times. For faster assistance, please call 1-888-824-0200 to schedule your appointment.

If you have symptoms of an urgent nature, please call your doctor or go to the emergency room immediately.

You can also schedule an appointment instantly for in-person and video visits through our online scheduling portal.

By submitting this form you acknowledge the risk of sending this information by email and agree not to hold the University of Chicago or University of Chicago Medical Center liable for any damages you may incur as a result of the transfer or use of this information. The use or transmittal of this form does not create a physician-contact relationship. More information regarding the confidentiality of this request can be found in our Privacy Policy.

* Indicates required field

By submitting this form you acknowledge the risk of sending this information by email and agree not to hold the University of Chicago or University of Chicago Medical Center liable for any damages you may incur as a result of the transfer or use of this information. The use or transmittal of this form does not create a physician-contact relationship. More information regarding the confidentiality of this request can be found in our Privacy Policy.