Oesophagus achalasia: Differencial diagnosis of asthma

Megaoesophagus resulting from achalasia is a rare but serious cause of airway obstruction. The exact aetiology remains unclear. Achalasia normally presents as weight loss, dysphasia and regurgitation but frequently considerable oesophageal distension can occur without complain and very rarely cause of achalasia presents with stridor or respiratory distress. The authors presents a 19-year old young lady who had respiratory symptoms and had been treated as a cause of chronic asthma, was found by us to have oesophagus achalasia. She had complained of cough, dispneia and had a pulmonary function studies that showed a severe airway obstruction. After surgery the symptoms disappeared and she had a marked improvement in the flow-volume curve. Oesophagus achalasia should be considered as one of the differential diagnoses of airway obstruction.