Congenital achalasia of the oesophagus in children.

Nine cases of congenital achalasia of the cardia in children are reported, of which four were below 1 year old and recording the youngest age of 3 months. A hereditary element is present in four children. Association with Hirschsprung's disease of the colon in one case and with hiatal hernia in another case, favours a more generalized neuromuscular pathology than a simple spasm of the cardia.