What is EoE?
Learn more: What is eosinophilic esophagitis?
Eosinophilic Esophagitis Quick Facts
Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an allergic inflammatory disease characterized by elevated eosinophils in the esophagus. EoE is a newly recognized disease that over the past decade has been increasingly diagnosed in children and adults. Eosinophilic esophagitis is a rare disease, but increasing in prevalence to an estimated 1: 2000. This increase is thought to reflect an increase in diagnosis as well as a true increase in EoE cases. Fortunately, the medical community is responding and new scientific information is emerging to guide management of this disorder, which often persists with ongoing or recurrent symptoms. Eosinophilic esophagitis is characterized by a large number of eosinophils and inflammation in the esophagus lining (the tube connecting the mouth to the stomach). The esoinophils are usually only seen with the aid of microscopes and special diagnositic procedures. These eosinophils persist despite treatment with acid blocking medicines and other standard treatments. People with EoE commonly have other allergic diseases such as rhinitis, asthma, and/or eczema. EoE affects people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. Males are more commonly affected than females. In certain families, there may be an inherited (genetic) tendency. In individuals with EoE, the eosinophils cause injury to the tissue in the esophagus. EoE can be driven by food allergy or intolerance: most patients who eliminate food proteins from their diet (by drinking only an amino-acid based formula) improve or other environmental factors that researchers are beginning to understand. Eosinophils are not normally present in the esophagus, although they may be found in other areas of the gastrointestinal tract. Diseases other than EoE can cause eosinophils in the esophagus including gastroesophageal reflux diseases (GERD), food allergy, and inflammatory bowel disease. A gastroenterologist can diagnose EoE based on clinical symptoms, number of eosinophils present, and tissue inflammation.
Upper Gastrointestinal Tract
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