OTSLPCase ReportJournal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBP2026

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Disruptive Behavior in a Child With Eosinophilic Esophagitis and Failure to Thrive.

Shruti Mittal, Angela Noone, Sally Asquith and 4 others

PMID 41502056

WHAT IT FOUND

Managing ADHD in a child with eosinophilic esophagitis and poor weight gain requires choosing medications that do not suppress appetite, such as alpha-2 agonists, and adapting feeding therapy to the family's specific food restrictions and stress levels.

Key findings

01For children with ADHD and poor weight gain, providers may consider starting with an alpha-2 agonist or selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor because they do not cause appetite suppression.

02A therapeutic feeding plan should methodically consider medical factors, nutritional gaps, oral-motor function, and family context, with caregivers involved from the beginning to aid transition from clinic to home.

03Parent training in behavior management is recommended for children younger than 12 years to address ADHD and co-existing disruptive behaviors, including those related to food.

STILL TO COME

How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs

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What it does not show

The evidence is derived from a single case report, meaning findings are descriptive and not generalizable to the broader population. The authors' recommendations for medication and therapy are based on expert opinion and clinical experience rather than controlled trials. The case involves a specific intersection of conditions (ADHD, EoE, failure to thrive) which may not apply to children with only one of these diagnoses. The text does not report objective outcome data, such as changes in weight, symptom scores, or quality of life metrics. The son is now 22 years old, and the retrospective nature of his childhood management may introduce recall bias.

Declared interests

No specific conflicts of interest or funding sources are declared in the provided text.

The easy way to misread this

Do not assume that alpha-2 agonists are more effective than stimulants for ADHD symptoms; the text states they are less effective but are considered only to avoid appetite suppression in specific medical contexts.

Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →