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Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE): This is probably the most common allergic reaction you have ever heard of. It is a condition that causes swelling of the tissues of the esophagus (the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach), making eating and swallowing difficult and, over the last decade we see it more and more in children. Part of the increase is that we become more and more in tune with the symptoms and we move faster to make the diagnosis, "said Jacob Robson, MD, MS, a pediatric gastroenterologist at the University of Ottawa. University of Utah Health. "We are also seeing an increase in this condition that reflects increasing rates of other allergies, such as asthma, eczema, and peanut allergies."
A common symptom of the EoE is a behavior that many parents encounter with their children. Infants and toddlers with EoE can avoid eating completely or avoiding certain foods because they are difficult or difficult to swallow. Sometimes the dysfunction of swallowing can lead to vomiting. "It's not until a child is older than he can really explain what's going on," Dr. Robson said. "Then they can describe the symptoms very well – saying that solid foods that are difficult to digest will lodge in their esophagus and they have to drink more water or" swallow power "to get it down."
EoE is currently done with endoscopy. The child is subjected to general anesthesia and a camera is inserted into the throat up to the esophagus to examine the tissue and take small samples (biopsies) under a microscope. Doctors who diagnose and treat EoE admit that it is not ideal. "We are seeking to establish a non-invasive way to diagnose and treat the EoE," said Dr. Robson. "Something like a blood test or saliva – a better way to track this disease."
Once the diagnosis is made, the next step is to determine what triggers the reaction. The most common allergens that cause rash are milk, eggs, soy and dairy products. But it can be difficult to follow because of the nature of how outbreaks occur. "With something like a peanut allergy, the answer is immediate," Robson said. "But with EoE, it's rather a delayed reaction – you could be eating for weeks or months before the symptoms become problematic."
Due to the reaction, it's often easier to Eliminate foods from the diet and see the answer rather than wait until the allergy is triggered. Therefore, changing the diet is one of the main ways to treat EoE. " It's a shared decision-making process with parents and the doctor, "said Dr. Robson." In order to avoid the medications, some families choose to make changes to the diet of their child to manage EoE. "
In cases where dietary changes are not the desired options, medications can be used to manage EoE symptoms.One is a specific type of blocker. acid (an inhibitor of the proton pump, as e omeprazole or lansoprazole) and the other is a steroid like those used to treat asthma. "Instead of inhaling it, the child swallows it to coat the esophagus and calm it down," Robson said.
EoE can make food miserable – but it is treatable. In cases where it is not treated, a child may suffer from a lack of nutrition or forget how to eat normally. In extreme cases, the esophagus can heal and shrink – food that is lodged in the esophagus and that does not go down should be removed by an emergency endoscopy. "It's not up to that point," Robson said. "Once the EoE is diagnosed and a treatment plan is in place, eating can be enjoyable."
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