| Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE)
Are food and environmental allergies playing a role?
Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a very recently identified allergic and immunologic condition. In EoE, a type of white blood cell (eosinophil) accumulates in the lining of the food canal (esophagus), that connects mouth to stomach. This accumulation could be a reaction to foods, allergens or acid reflux and causes injury and swelling of the esophagus. Swollen and damaged esophageal tissue can lead to difficulty swallowing or cause food to get stuck during swallowing.
Normally there should be no eosinophils in the esophagus. Hence, build up of these white cells (eosinophils) in esophagus is the trigger for this disease.
EoE can occur at any age and most commonly occurs in Caucasian males.
Symptoms of EoE vary with age.
Children:
-
Difficulty feeding
-
Vomiting
-
Abdominal pain
-
Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
-
Food impaction
-
Failure to thrive (poor growth, malnutrition and weight loss)
Adults:
-
Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
-
Food impaction
-
Heartburn
-
Upper abdominal pain