Eosinophilic Esophagitis
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Eosinophilic esophagitis is an identified chronic immune condition that affects the esophagus. The esophagus is a tube that allows the movement of food from the mouth to the stomach. There are white blood cells known as eosinophils that form the inner lining of the esophagus, and there can be a release of substances that may cause inflammation. The inflammation caused will lead to eosinophilic symptoms.
A healthy person usually does not have eosinophils in the esophagus, and a person with EoE will have increased inflammation, and the eosinophils numbers in the esophagus will increase. Symptoms displayed by a person suffering from EoE will vary depending on age, but they are all related(“Eosinophilic Esophagitis | AAAAI”, 2020). Infants and toddlers refuse to eat, and this leads to low growth rates. There is decreased appetite, abdominal pains, reduced appetite, and trouble while swallowing in school-going children, teenagers, and adults.
There are increased incidents of EoE disease leading to allergists and gastroenterologists seeing more patients. The diagnosis needs to be done in the right way, and any conditions known to cause eosinophils, such as acid reflux, should be ruled out.
The allergists and gastroenterologists have come up with criteria and methods of diagnosing EoE. The technique is by evaluating and analyzing the symptoms and carrying out the upper endoscopy in which a pathologist also examines the oesophageal tissue biopsies and gives a confirmation of EoE presence or absence.
There has been raising issues that those suffering from EoE are atopic, and this means they suffer from other allergies.this allergic disorders include asthma, eczema, and allergic rhinitis. To carry out the testing, in this case, one may first be referred to the allergists if the patient is atopic (“Eosinophilic Esophagitis | AAAAI”, 2020). After the diagnosis is confirmed, then they are related to the gastroenterologist for confirmation. If the gastroenterologist diagnosis a patient, then he or she refers them to an allergist who makes the EoE confirmation.
The article states that there are no medications that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of EoE. However, patients subjected to medication have experienced fewer eosinophils in the esophagus, thus improving symptoms. Therapy like proton pump inhibitors (PPI) has been used to reduce acid production in the stomach reducing inflammation in the esophagus of an EoE patient.
When a patient is PPIs followed by upper endoscopy with biopsies, there is a decrease in the inflammation and eosinophils. However, not all patients respond positively, and they are thus subjected to other therapies and drugs, which include corticosteroids and elimination of diets. Proper monitoring by a physician is vital for one to recover from EoE.
In the article, it is stated that different types of corticosteroids are available for use. Patients are advised to take small doses, and when the corticosteroids come into contact with the inner lining of the esophagus, the inflammation is reduced (“Eosinophilic Esophagitis | AAAAI”, 2020). However, medication use is under control, and the doses are reduced over time to reduce the risk caused by the consumption of steroids.
For a patient to fully recover from EoE, they are supposed to follow the gastroenterologist’s advice and ensure they make the required check-up to check the condition of the inflammation. The allergists also play a crucial role, and the patient should keep in touch so they can know what role the allergies are playing. Various medications are being studied so they can help in the treatment of EoE.
Reference
Eosinophilic Esophagitis | AAAAI. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. (2020). Retrieved 1 June 2020, from https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/related-conditions/eosinophilic-esophagitis.