The cases older than 5 y of age with the diagnosis of grade 2b esophagitis must be followed up closely for the stricture formation. In order to protect children from corrosive ingestion, importance must be given to preventive measures such as education of families, keeping and storing these agents out of the reach of children and providing safety caps for these products.

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Aim:This study aimed to review a series of patients with autoimmune hepatitis in terms of disease pattern, laboratory results, treatment outcomes and adverse effects of treatment. Material and Method: Children with autoimmune hepatitis were retrospectively reviewed. In all patients, viral and metobolic etiologies were excluded. Patients were classified as type-1, type-2 and non-classified type, as well as acute and chronic groups. Treatment response and cessation of treatment were evaluated. Results: Patients were beetween 4 and 17 years old (12±2.68 years). Twenty patients were female, 11 patients were male. Seventeen percent of the patients were in the acute group and 14% were in the chronic group; 18% were in the type-1 group, 6% were in the type-2 group and 7% were in the non-classified type group. Deflazacort was started in all patients. Azothiopurine (2 mg/kg/day) was added in 10 patients with late response at the end of the third month. Deflazacort dosage was decreased at 6-8 weeks intervals and continued at a maintenance dosage of 5 mg/day. After a two-year period complete response was obtained in 24 patients and partial response was obtained in 5 patients. No response was obtained in 2 patients. During the nine-year follow-up period, treatment was ended in 6 patients. In one patient, there was a recurrance in 6 months; the remaining 5 patients are still being followed up without a problem. Despite treatment, portal hypertension was observed in 5 patients. Conclusions: Early diagnosis and treatment of childhood autoimmune hepatitis can decrease the risk of progression to cirrhosis and can increase the survival. Deflazocort can be a choice instead of prednisolone because of its efficiency in treatment and lesser side effects. (Turk Arch Ped 2012; 47: 29-34)