Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Eosinophilic esophagitis is a type of white blood cell (eosinophil) builds up in the lining of the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach i.e esophagus. This causes inflammation of the esophagus and damages it. Damaged esophageal tissue can lead to difficulty swallowing or cause food to get caught when one swallows. Eosinophilic esophagitis is a chronic immune system disease.

The signs and symptoms usually differ in both adults and children which includes the following: In adults: • Difficulty swallowing • Food impaction • Chest pain that is often centrally located and does not respond to antacids • Persistent heartburn • Upper abdominal pain • Backflow of undigested food In children:

• Difficulty feeding

• Vomiting

• Abdominal pain

• Food impaction 

The various tests that are performed to diagnose the disease are upper endoscopy and biopsy of esophagus, blood tests, food patch test. Steroids may decrease the buildup of eosinophils in the esophagus, reduce the inflammation associated with an allergic reaction, and allow your esophagus to heal.Acid blockers are prescribed as PPI .If one does not respond to the PPI, doctor will then likely prescribe a topical steroid, such as fluticasone or budesonide, which is taken orally to treat eosinophilic esophagitis.

There is an increasing trend in newly diagnosed cases per year worldwide. The current prevalence in Ireland is between 45 and 55 cases per 100,000 population. Whether this increase in incidence reflects a heightened awareness of EoE or a true increase is yet undetermined. Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) has been hypothesized to be an atopic inflammatory disease. The etiopathogenesis is hypothesized to be an aberrant immune response to antigenic stimulation.