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Eosinophilic esophagitis

Definition

Eosinophilic esophagitis involves a buildup of a specific type of white blood cells, called eosinophils, in the lining of your esophagus. The esophagus is the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach. The buildup of eosinophils is due to a reaction to foods, allergens, or acid reflux.

Causes

The exact cause of eosinophilic esophagitis is not known. It is believed that an immune reaction to certain foods leads to a buildup of eosinophils. As a result, the lining of the esophagus becomes swollen and inflamed.

Most people with this disorder have a family or personal history of allergies or asthma. Triggers such as mold, pollen, and dust mites may also play a role.

Symptoms

Eosinophilic esophagitis can affect both children and adults.

Symptoms in children include:

  • Problems feeding or eating
  • Abdominal pain
  • Vomiting
  • Problems swallowing
  • Food getting stuck in the esophagus
  • Poor weight gain or weight loss, poor growth, and malnutrition

Symptoms in adults include:

  • Food getting stuck when swallowing (dysphagia)
  • Chest pain
  • Heartburn
  • Upper abdominal pain
  • Backflow of undigested food (regurgitation)
  • Reflux in the esophagus that does not get better with medicine

Exams and Tests

Your health care provider will take a detailed history and perform a physical exam. This is done to check for food allergies and to rule out other conditions, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Tests that may be done include:

Treatment

There is no cure and no specific treatment for eosinophilic esophagitis. Treatment involves managing your diet and taking medicines.

If you test positive for food allergies, you may be told to avoid those foods. Or you may avoid all foods that are known to trigger this problem. Common foods to avoid include seafood, eggs, nuts, soy, wheat, and dairy. Allergy testing may discover specific foods to avoid.

Proton pump inhibitors can help control symptoms, but they don't help the problem causing symptoms.

Your provider may prescribe topical steroids taken orally or inhaled. You also may take oral steroids for a short time. Topical steroids don't have the same side effects as oral steroids.

If you develop narrowing or strictures, a procedure to open up or dilate the area may be needed.

You and your provider will work together to find a treatment plan that works best for you.

Support Groups

Support groups such as American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders can help you understand more about eosinophilic esophagitis. You can also learn ways to manage your condition and cope with the disease.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Eosinophilic esophagitis is long-term (chronic) disease that comes and goes over a person's lifetime.

Possible Complications

Possible complications may include:

  • Narrowing of the esophagus (a stricture)
  • Food getting stuck in the esophagus (common in both children and adults)
  • Severe swelling and irritation of the esophagus

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Contact your provider if you have symptoms of eosinophilic esophagitis.

Gallery

Esophagus
The esophagus connects the nose and mouth with the stomach. The epiglottis folds over the trachea when a swallow occurs, to prevent the swallowed substance from being inhaled into the lungs. When a person is unable to swallow because of illness or coma, a tube may be inserted either through the mouth or nose, past the epiglottis, into the esophagus and into the stomach. Nutrients will be passed through the tube directly into the stomach.
Esophagus
The esophagus connects the nose and mouth with the stomach. The epiglottis folds over the trachea when a swallow occurs, to prevent the swallowed substance from being inhaled into the lungs. When a person is unable to swallow because of illness or coma, a tube may be inserted either through the mouth or nose, past the epiglottis, into the esophagus and into the stomach. Nutrients will be passed through the tube directly into the stomach.
Esophagus
The esophagus connects the nose and mouth with the stomach. The epiglottis folds over the trachea when a swallow occurs, to prevent the swallowed substance from being inhaled into the lungs. When a person is unable to swallow because of illness or coma, a tube may be inserted either through the mouth or nose, past the epiglottis, into the esophagus and into the stomach. Nutrients will be passed through the tube directly into the stomach.

References

Falk GW, Katzka DA. Diseases of the esophagus. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 129.

Hirano I, Chan ES, Rank MA, et al. on behalf of the AGA Institute Clinical Guidelines Committee and the Joint Task Force on Allergy-Immunology Practice Parameters. AGA Institute and the Joint Task Force on Allergy-Immunology Practice Parameters Clinical Guidelines for the Management of Eosinophilic Esophagitis. Gastroenterology. 2020;158(6):1776-1786. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32359562/.

Khan S. Eosinophilic esophagitis, pill esophagitis, and infective esophagitis. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 350.

Last reviewed May 6, 2022 by Michael M. Phillips, MD, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team..

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