Achalasia is a neurodegenerative disease characterised by the degeneration of neurones of the myenteric plexus which are responsible for the motility of the digestive tract. It is extremely rare in children and normally affects the lower oesophageal sphincter (LES). LES contraction prevents acid reflux while relaxation allows food to enter the stomach. Impaired LES relaxation therefore leads to dysphagia, as the oesophagus cannot be emptied. Familial achalasia, whereby achalasia manifests among siblings, is noted in families displaying consanguinity or inbreeding as the disease can be passed on as an autosomal recessive trait.<unk>  can manifest due to a variety of reasons, these include: TORCH infections, chromosomal and biochemical abnormalities and can be transmitted as an autosomal recessive, dominant or X-linked disorder. It is most commonly caused by congenital infections due to viruses such as cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus and Zika virus. The severe reduction of neural progenitors and neurones as a result of cell cycle arrest and neural progenitor death due to viral infection leads to<unk> . There are two types of<unk> , primary, occurring before thirty-two weeks of gestation or secondary, after birth. A reduced production of neurones is attributed to primary<unk>  whilst decreased dendritic connection is thought to cause secondary<unk> , all amounting to an estimated brain size that is significantly smaller than average. Further, the cerebral cortex occupies 55% of the human brain, therefore, most<unk> c people are mentally retarded. Developmental delay in motor and communication skills will result. Congenital<unk>  has also been attributed to serine deficiencies that cause defects in two known enzymes: 3-phosphogycerate dehydrogenase and 3-phosphoserine phosphatase, leading to severe neurological abnormalities Like familial<unk>  has an autosomal recessive predisposition. Although no disease-causing gene has been identified, studies suggest that due to the consanguinity or close relatedness of parents observed in four out of five cases,<unk>  might be inherited via an autosomal recessive gene.
Achalasia microcephaly
Laryngo-onycho-cutaneous syndrome
Odontoma dysphagia syndrome
Retained antrum syndrome
complications of Hiatal hernia
Atresia
Ontario Minamata disease
Esophageal achalasia