EoE is an inflammatory condition in which eosinophils, a type of white blood cell, infiltrate the esophagus. (The esophagus usually has NO eosinophils)

There are many different symptoms of EoE- toddlers may refuse to eat, school-age children may complain of belly pain or difficulty swallowing, and adults often feel that food is getting stuck in their esophagus when they are eating.

How is it diagnosed?

You would need to have an endoscopy with biopsies. This is performed by a gastroenterologist.

How do allergies play a role?

Most patients with EoE have a personal or family history of allergies.

An allergist can test you to see if certain foods may be playing a role in your disease. The most common triggering foods are COWS MILK, egg, soy, and wheat.

Some patients will note that their EoE flares during allergy season. Your allergist can also test you for environmental factors.

How is this treated?

Your allergist and GI specialist can work together to create a special diet for you to alleviate symptoms.
Some patients, who may have severe reflux as a cause of their elevated eosinophils, may respond well to proton-pump inhibitor therapy.

Some patients will require treatments with swallowed corticosteroids to control inflammation.

Treatment of EoE involves a joint effort between your GI specialist and your allergist.