Eosinophilic Oesophagitis (EoE)
Eosinophilic oesophagitis, also known as oesophageal asthma, is a rare disorder (affecting about one in 3,000 people in the UK), which causes chronic inflammation of the tissue in the food pipe (oesophagus).
In an EoE sufferer, if the food becomes stuck and is not brought back up, then it can lead to serious situations in which the oesophagus is completely obstructed. The condition can also prevent individuals from enjoying normal social interactions such as eating a meal with other people.
Symptoms
The symptoms can be similar to those found in other digestive conditions, such as dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), although with EoE the sensation can be one of food moving too slowly down the oesophagus or getting stuck inside the chest. This may be an occasional problem or it can happen every time you eat. For some people it’s severe and painful while for others it’s mild, causing only slight discomfort.
Causes
EoE is brought about by having too many eosinophils (white blood cells) in the tissues of the food pipe. Why this happens in some people is not fully understood, however, it is believed to be linked to the body’s immune system response to certain foods or allergens in the environment. As a result, EoE is more often found in people with allergy-related conditions including asthma, eczema, and rhinitis. Another reason may be that a generic disorder causes an overabundance of white blood cells.
Diagnosis & Treatment
Diagnosis
EoE affects both children and adults. In children it’s slightly more common but may go undiagnosed for some time because the child could adopt habits to cope with the difficulty swallowing, such as refusing to eat certain foods, excessive chewing, slow eating, vomiting, favouring more soft or moist foods, or needing to drink frequently during mealtimes. A failure to eat properly will also lead to poor nutrition and growth.
Treatment
Although there is no complete cure, the condition can be treated with changes to diet (by eliminating several foods which are thought to be causing the condition), medications and in some cases, endoscopic procedures involving an instrument being passed down the oesophagus to dilate it slightly so it becomes wider Endoscopic dilatation of strictures and achalasia.
Care at Chartwell Hospital
At Chartwell Digestive Health we have a team of experienced gastroenterology specialists, dedicated to providing the best possible care for all of our patients.
We diagnose and treat common abdominal symptoms such as rectal bleeding, change in bowel habit and abdominal pain which can be distressing for patients. In most cases, the symptoms are due to underlying health problems. However, for more serious cases, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment is key to recovery.
Our specialist team use comprehensive examinations and testing to diagnose various conditions. In addition to testing blood and stool samples, our Consultant Gastroenterologists may use other diagnostic tools including colonoscopy, gastroscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, MRI, X-rays, and CT scans.
Doctors & Departments
Department
Gastroenterology
Doctors
Meet our team of experienced gastroenterology specialists