Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Overview
Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a build up of inflammation in the esophagus. It tends to begin any time between infancy and young adulthoold and can occassionally occur at an older age.
7Common Symptoms
- Cough
- Wheezing
- Trouble Swallowing
- Vomiting
- Poor feeding
- Failure to gain weight
- Chest or abdominal pain
Diagnosis and Treatment
To diagnosis EoE, we take small samples of tissue from the esophagus and send it to our laboratory to look for inflammation. It is important that your child has been on an antacid medication (proton pump inhibitor or PPI) for at least six weeks before the biopsy is taken. If a child is not on a PPI, then he/she will need to have a pH probe study done at the same time. Both of these options are needed to rule out reflux (GERD) as a cause of the inflammation. During the scope and while under anesthesia, allergy blood work may be obtained to determine whether the child has food allergies. Treatment begins by examining the diet and removing certain types of food that may be causing inflammation. If symptoms are not relieved through an elimination diet, a course of swallowed or inhaled steroids may be prescribed.
Meet Our Team
We bring together physicians, speech-language pathologists, and other healthcare professionals to provide treatment to patients suffering from breathing troubles.
