Learn About Eosinophilic Esophagitis
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 that causes eosinophilic esophagitis is due to a reaction to foods or allergens.
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.
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
There is no cure at this time. 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 that cause eosinophilic esophagitis include seafood, eggs, nuts, soy, wheat, and dairy. Allergy testing may discover specific foods to avoid, but is not always helpful. Talk to your provider about what foods to avoid.
Proton pump inhibitors can help control symptoms. They may also help treat inflammation of the esophagus.
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. You must rinse your mouth after using topical steroids.
If you develop narrowing or strictures, a procedure to open up or dilate the area may be needed. This is done during an endoscopy.
New medicines have been approved to help with eosinophilic esophagitis. They may be used by mouth or injected.
You and your provider will work together to find a treatment plan that works best for you.
Joshua Wechsler is a Pediatric Gastroenterologist and a Gastroenterologist in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Wechsler is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Eosinophilic Esophagitis. His top areas of expertise are Eosinophilic Esophagitis, Esophagitis, Eosinophilic Enteropathy, Endoscopy, and Tissue Biopsy.
Boston Specialists-South Shore LLC
John Leung, MD, AGAF, FACAAI is the only US physician dual board certified in Allergy/Immunology and Gastroenterology. He attended medical school at University of Michigan Medical School and completed his internal medicine residency at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. He then proceeded with a Gastroenterology fellowship at Tufts Medical Center and an Allergy/Immunology fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School. He began his early career in academia working on several NIH-funded research projects.He is a former site principal investigator of the Consortium of Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disease Researchers (CEGiR). He established and directed the Center for Food Related Diseases at Tufts Medical Center and the Pediatric Food Allergy Center at Tufts Children’s Hospital.In 2015, Dr. Leung founded Boston Specialists/Boston Food Allergy Center. The center has become one of the most distinguished independent clinical and research centers in New England, treating 250-300 patients per week. He has conducted over 40 industry and federally funded clinical trials since 2010. He is currently an adjunct assistant professor at Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, and an adjunct faculty member of the Immunology Program at Tufts Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Both his clinical and research focus are on eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases, mast cell GI disorders and food allergy/intolerance. He has co-authored more than 50 peer-reviewed manuscripts including an article in New England Journal of Medicine, numerous scientific abstracts, book chapters, and online tutorials. He has been invited to lecture at many well-renowned institutions, some of which include Tufts Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Massachusetts Medical Society, and the American Gastroenterology Association. Dr. Leung is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Eosinophilic Esophagitis. His top areas of expertise are Eosinophilic Esophagitis, Eosinophilic Enteropathy, Eosinophilic Colitis, Endoscopy, and Tissue Biopsy.
John Pandolfino is a Gastroenterologist in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Pandolfino has been practicing medicine for over 33 years and is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Eosinophilic Esophagitis. His top areas of expertise are Achalasia, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Hiatal Hernia, Endoscopy, and Colonoscopy.
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.
Eosinophilic esophagitis is long-term (chronic) disease that comes and goes over a person's lifetime.
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
Contact your provider if you have symptoms of eosinophilic esophagitis.
Background: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a disease that causes inflammation in the esophagus. The esophagus is the tube that moves food from the mouth to the stomach. Diagnosing EoE currently requires a specialized tool called an endoscope. The esophageal string test (EST) is another test; the EST collects fluid from the upper digestive tract. An EST is simpler and cheaper than an endoscopy. Researchers ...
Summary: This study is researching an experimental drug called dupilumab (called study drug). The study is focused on children with active eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE; an inflammatory disease of the esophagus) which impacts feeding and nourishment. The aim of the study is to see how safe, tolerable, and effective the study drug is when given for 24 weeks to children with active EoE. The study is looking ...
Published Date: June 11, 2024
Published By: Jenifer K. Lehrer, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Aria - Jefferson Health Torresdale, Jefferson Digestive Diseases Network, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. 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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Falk GW, Katzka DA. Diseases of the esophagus. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 124.
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, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 370.