Eosinophilic Esophagitis

At Juniper Allergy, we work to increase understanding of EoE and offer comprehensive care to people with this condition.

In this news post, we’ll look at some of the main features of EoE, such as its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options. Providing helpful information and resources is part of our mission to support people with EoE and their families.

Eosinophilic Esophagitis: An Overview

Allergic sensitivity to specific foods or environmental allergens causes this immunological response.

The chronic inflammation over time might result in the formation of scar tissue, which can restrict the oesophagus and produce symptoms similar to those of other gastrointestinal diseases.

Symptoms of Eosinophilic Esophagitis

The signs of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and eosinophilic esophagitis can be highly similar.

This led to previous misdiagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis up to the early 1990s. Eosinophilic esophagitis symptoms and signs include:

• Dysphagia, or trouble swallowing
• Continent pain
• Chest pain or heartburn that doesn’t go away after taking antacids
• Following swallowing, food or medication becomes lodged in the oesophagus
• Spitting up (backflow) uneaten food
• Significant symptoms of eosinophilic esophagitis in children include those mentioned above in addition to:
• Feeding or eating difficulties
• Vomiting
• Poor development, malnutrition, and weight loss are signs of failure to thrive.

Causes of Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Eosinophils are a common form of white blood cell in the digestive tract. However, an allergic reaction to food or other allergens might cause eosinophil levels to increase in people with eosinophilic esophagitis.

Despite the lack of a clear explanation, scientists think a patient’s propensity to develop eosinophilic esophagitis is heavily influenced by genetics.

Individuals with eosinophilic esophagitis have significantly increased over the previous two decades.

Studies indicate that the condition is growing more prevalent, even though this growth was once assumed to result from increased awareness and test availability.

Diagnoses of eosinophilic esophagitis have risen with diagnoses of asthma and allergies.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Eosinophilic Esophagitis

In an endoscopy, a long tube with a tiny camera is introduced into the oesophagus to perform an imaging procedure. During the surgery, a few small portions of esophageal tissue will be removed and examined for esophageal health.

Your Doctor can do tests on you if you are given an eosinophilic esophagitis diagnosis to find out which allergens may be causing the disease to flare up. Your Doctor may use a blood or skin test to do this.

Since eosinophilic esophagitis is a chronic relapsing condition, most patients need continuing care to manage and prevent severe flare-ups.

Your doctor may advise an elimination diet, in which you exclude specific items to give your oesophagus time to heal and minimise inflammation, depending on your allergy test(s) findings.

Depending on the severity of your eosinophilic esophagitis, your gastroenterologist or allergist may also advise medication or a dilation surgery (during which your oesophagus is stretched to make swallowing food easier).

Next Steps

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