GI Resources & Education
What Is Eosinophilic Esophagitis?
Eosinophilic esophagitis (also called EoE for short), is a chronic inflammatory condition of the food tube (esophagus: ih-SOF-eh-guss) often caused by a reaction to common foods.
What are eosinophils cells?
Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell. Together with basophils and mast cells, eosinophils are important mediators of the allergic response in EoE and symptom severity is a function of the number of eosinophils found in the esophagus.
Common EoE Symptoms
Because EoE can mimic other GI conditions, it's important to confirm your child's diagnosis with a specialist. Your child may also need extra help with feeding and nutrition because symptoms usually include:
- Difficulty eating or swallowing
- Nausea or vomiting
- Food getting stuck
- Chest or abdominal pain
- Poor weight gain
Treatment Options for Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE)
Medications
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are a kind of acid-reducing medications that can help controlling EoE. Topical steroids can be used to coat the esophagus lining and improve EoE. Examples may include: budesonide and pulmicort or fluticasone.
Resources for Diet and Food Removal
Because EoE can be triggered by foods, the doctor may advise a trial of removing certain foods to control EoE. Common triggering foods may include milk, soy, egg, wheat, fish/shellfish, peanuts/tree nuts. Here are some resources from Nemours® KidsHealth® experts to learn more:
- Food allergies
- Food allergies versus food intolerance
- What is calcium?
- Lactose intolerance
- Dairy-Free Diet (from Nemours Center for EoE) (Download PDF)
- 4 Food Elimination Meal Ideas (from Nemours Center for EoE) (Download PDF)
- Dairy-Free Calcium & Vitamin D (from Nemours Center for EoE) (Download PDF)
How Is EoE Diagnosed?
To make the diagnosis, a pediatric GI specialist takes samples (called biopsies) from the lining of the esophagus with a thin camera that is gently slid down the mouth into the esophagus, stomach and intestine. This upper GI test is called an endoscopy. It's done as an outpatient and with sedation or anesthesia so your child is not uncomfortable.
Management of Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE)
Because EoE is a chronic condition, treatment is continued long-term. Although treatment does not cure EoE, it controls your child's symptoms, discomfort and prevents complications.
Ongoing monitoring with repeating biopsies may be done to make sure inflammation and other medical issues related to EoE are well controlled.
Visit our services page to get an idea of what we do in our EoE GI Disease Center at Nemours Children's, including an upper GI test that doesn't require anesthesia (unsedated transnasal endoscopy or "TNE"). We use the EndoflipTM (endoluminal functional lumen imaging probe) an advanced technology to help us see and measure inside the esophagus.
Mind-Body Connection
In addition to medications and diet, our EoE experts recommend tools and techniques to help kids with GI conditions function better at home, at school and during procedures. They include things like:
- Apps to calm your mind and body
- Breathing exercises
- Guided meditation
- Yoga and other kinds of movement
Nutritional Support and Daily Life
Zeke sets nutriition goals with his EoE team and even scores a few on the ice as a 16-year-old hockey player.
Nutritional Support
Neocate.com Hypoallergenic formulas for patients with food allergy-related conditions.
Elecare.com Amino Acid-based diet formulas for infants and children who cannot tolerate intact or hydrolyzed protein due to food allergies or short bowel syndrome.
Meadjohnson.com (PurAmino) A global company focused primarily on infant and child nutrition.
Living With EoE
Diet and Food Removal
Because EoE can be triggered by foods in some kids, the doctor may advise a systematic trial of eliminating certain foods to control EoE. Common triggering foods may include milk, soy, egg, wheat, fish/shellfish, peanuts/tree nuts.
Support Organizations
These groups offer everything from help with school (Kindergarten to college), annual conferences, and more.
- American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders is a patient advocacy group dedicated to improving the lives of people with eosinophilic disorders.
- Campaign Urging Research for Eosinophilic Disease (CURED) advocates for EGID patients and their families.
- FARE Food Allergy Research and Education seeks to improve the lives of the 32 million Americans with food allergies.
- GI Kids provides information on diagnosis and management of pediatric digestive disorders like EoE.
Take a Tour of the Digestive System
Presented by the experts at Nemours KidsHealth, this journey through your digestive system will help you understand how the food you eat works its way through your body from start to finish.