Do you suddenly feel like your throat is blocked when you eat? Or do you have a burning sensation in your chest that doesn't go away no matter how much medicine you take? You may think that this is a common gastritis problem. But if you have these symptoms, don't just ignore it. Because this may be a symptom of another health condition that we don't hear much about, but should be a little concerned about. Today we are talking about one such condition, Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE).
What is Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE)?
Okay, this name may sound a bit complicated, but let's keep it simple.
Simply put, Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) is an allergic condition caused by an immune system reaction. It mainly affects the esophagus , the muscular tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach.
Now, look, eosinophils are a type of white blood cell in our blood. These cells usually increase in our body when we have an allergy or a parasitic infection . In EoE, a large number of these eosinophil cells, for some reason, accumulate inside the tissues of our esophagus. When they accumulate, the inside of the esophagus becomes swollen, red, and begins to get damaged. This swelling causes the esophagus to stop working properly. That's why we have difficulty swallowing food, and food gets stuck.
The important thing is that EoE is not something that comes and goes. It is a chronic , long-term condition. It can be seen in both children and adults, especially in men.
What are the main symptoms of EoE?
A person with EoE can experience a variety of symptoms. Some of the symptoms are very similar to those of normal gastritis, which is why people confuse it. Let's take a look at the main symptoms.
| Symptom | A simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Difficulty swallowing (Dysphagia) | Feeling like food is stuck in the throat instead of going down when eating. It feels like the esophagus is narrowed. |
| Food Impaction | This is a medical emergency . A piece of food is completely stuck in the esophagus, making it impossible to swallow even a drop of saliva. If this happens, you should immediately go to the hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU). |
| Chest pain or inflammation | As with gastritis, there is a burning or pain in the middle of the chest. But the special thing is that this pain does not decrease even after taking medicines such as antacids, which are given for gastritis. |
| Vomiting and stomach pain | This symptom is especially common among young children. It can cause loss of appetite, stomach pain, and vomiting. |
Why does EoE occur? What are the causes?
Because EoE is a relatively new medical condition, its causes are not yet 100% known. However, there are a few key points that researchers believe are:
- Immune system response: The current accepted view is that our immune system overreacts to certain things (especially foods). Specifically, our body mistakes certain foods (e.g., milk, eggs , soy, wheat) or things in the environment (e.g., pollen, dust mites, mold) as "enemies" and sends eosinophils into the bloodstream to fight them.
- Genetics: This condition tends to run in families to some extent. This means that if someone in your family has EoE, asthma, or allergies like eczema, you may have a lower risk of developing EoE too.
EoE? Or GERD? Why confuse the two?
This is the biggest problem for many people. The symptoms of EoE are very similar to what we all know as GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) , a condition in which stomach acid comes up into the throat. Because of this, many people with EoE can go on GERD treatment for years without any improvement.
Let's see what the main differences are between the two.
| Point of comparison | Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) | GERD (Gastric Reflux) |
|---|---|---|
| The root cause | An allergic response of the immune system. | Stomach acid coming up the esophagus. |
| Chest inflammation | Can be seen often. | A main feature. |
| Response to antacids | Often there is no response or there is very little response. | It is usually well controlled . |
| Food poisoning | It is very common and can be severe. | Relatively low. |
| Other allergies | There is a clear link with conditions such as asthma, eczema, and hay fever. | There is usually no direct connection . |
How exactly does the doctor find this?
If you have the symptoms I mentioned above, especially if you are not relieved by taking medication for gastritis, you should definitely see your doctor and tell him about it. After listening to your symptoms carefully, he will recommend a test to confirm whether this is EoE.
The main tests performed for this are endoscopy and biopsy .
This involves inserting a thin, flexible tube with a small camera attached through your mouth and examining the inside of your esophagus and stomach. Don't worry, you're usually given some anesthesia for this, so you won't feel any discomfort.
During the endoscopy, the doctor will take a small sample of tissue (biopsy) from the esophagus and send it to the lab. The only way to be 100% certain that you have EoE is to look for abnormally high numbers of eosinophils in the tissue.
Take-Home Message
- Never underestimate symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, food getting stuck in the throat, or chest pain that doesn't respond to medication.
- EoE is not caused by stomach acid, it is an allergic response of the immune system.
- Your symptoms may be similar to GERD, but the cause and treatment are completely different.
- To find out exactly what the disease is, it is essential to see a doctor and, if necessary, undergo an endoscopy and biopsy.
- Rather than self-medicate, talk openly with your doctor about your symptoms. An accurate diagnosis is the first step to successful treatment.
💬 Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts here.
Add Your Comment