Abstract

Introduction: Photophobia or swallowing phobia is a rarely studied clinical entity. Classified as a specific phobia by the DSM-V.

Through our clinical case, we highlight the diagnosis difficulty of this clinical entity and the interest of early therapeutic management appropriate to the age of the child.

Clinical observation: A 6-year-old female patient was hospitalized in pediatric surgery for esophageal caustic stenosis that required esophageal replacement. Thereafter, the persistence of swallowing disorders was observed while the organic etiological assessment was negative. Manifestations of phobic anxiety were identified starting the first psychiatric consultation. These manifestations were found to be linked to the memory of traumatic events that the patient experienced during the gastro esophageal fibro copy. The diagnosis of phobic disorder was retained and the treatment was essentially based on behavioral therapy. The evolution was globally favorable.

Discussion: Photophobia, or swallowing phobia, is an uncommon phobic disorder listed in the 11th edition of the International Classification of Mental Disorders and the DSM-5.

The important question before diagnosing this disorder is to determine its psychogenic basis. In most cases, the onset of the disorder follows a swallowing accident, which leads to swallowing phobia, which in turn is considered a particular form of post-traumatic stress disorder. It can also be associated with separation anxiety in children as in our case.

Conclusion: Swallowing phobia is considered a specific, non-developmental phobia. Swallowing phobia and other childhood anxiety disorders are closely correlated. Cognitive behavioural therapies have shown favourable responses in most cases.