Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) (pronounced as e-o-sin-o-FILL-ik uh-sof-uh-JIE-tis), is a swallowing disorder that affects the esophagus, the tube that leads from the throat to the stomach. EoE is an allergic response that happens when eosinophils (a type of white blood cell) collect in the esophagus. Food can be a trigger, as can pollen.

Symptoms in children include vomiting, weight loss, or “failing to thrive” (in an infant). Reflux, difficulty swallowing, and chest pain are other symptoms – especially in adults and older children. The condition is difficult to understand as symptoms can change, go away, come back, and even occur hours, days, or weeks after eating an allergen.

EoE is often diagnosed after a long process that eventually leads a person to the allergist. The only way to diagnose EoE is through an upper endoscopy, where a camera is inserted down the esophagus and biopsies are taken. Skin tests for food (or pollen) allergens are usually conducted. Like other food allergies, there are some more common allergens, but it can be caused by any food.In addition to avoiding the allergenic food, other dietary, medication, and experimental treatments are used to treat EoE.

Information taken from https://foodallergycanada.ca/food-allergy-basics/food-allergies-101/what-are-food-allergies/eosinophilic-esophagitis-eoe/