digestive disorders
Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Introduction
Eosinophilic esophagitis is an inflammatory disorder in which the wall of the esophagus becomes filled with large numbers of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell. This disorder may be caused by food allergies. Children may refuse to eat and lose weight, and adults may have food lodged in their esophagus and difficulty swallowing. The diagnosis is based on the results of an endoscopy and biopsy, sometimes along with x-rays. Treatment includes proton pump inhibitors, corticosteroids, changes in diet, and sometimes dilation of the esophagus. The Throat and Esophagus is the hollow tube that leads from the throat (pharynx) to the stomach. (See also Eosinophilic esophagitis can begin at any time between infancy and young adulthood. It occasionally occurs in older adults and is more common among males. White Blood Cells are a type of white blood cell that play an important role in the body's response to allergic reactions, asthma, and infection with parasites. Eosinophilic esophagitis may be caused by an allergic reaction to certain foods in people who have genetic risk factors. The allergic reaction causes inflammation that irritates the esophagus. If not treated, the inflammation eventually leads to chronic narrowing (stricture) of the esophagus. 