Diagnosis and Management of Eosinophilic Esophagitis in Children

Question: After a few years of difficulty swallowing solids and feeling like food was getting stuck, a 13-year-old boy in my practice with peanut allergy and asthma was recently diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). What is EoE and how is it diagnosed and managed?

Answer: Eosinophilic esophagitis is an immune-mediated disease resulting in inflammation of the esophagus. It is increasing in prevalence and incidence in countries like Canada, and frequently occurs in children with other allergic conditions. Unexplained feeding difficulties, vomiting, and solid-food dysphagia, especially in boys with atopy, supports the possibility of having EoE. A formal diagnosis is obtained by reviewing esophageal biopsies obtained through upper endoscopy performed while the patient is taking a proton pump inhibitor. Once EoE has been established, management should involve working collaboratively with gastroenterology and allergy specialists. Medical or dietary treatments are acceptable therapeutic approaches.