Do you suddenly feel like food is stuck in your throat when you eat? Or do you constantly struggle with heartburn and chest pain? Sometimes we think these things are normal, but today we are going to talk about the medical condition that lies behind this. This is something that many people have not heard of, but it is very important to know.
Simply put, what is Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE)?
This name is a bit long and hard to pronounce, isn't it? But let's break it down and understand it simply.
- Esophagitis: This means that our "food pipe" or "gullet" `(esophagus)` has become swollen and inflamed. The food we eat travels from our mouth to our stomach along this food pipe. So what happens when it becomes swollen? It's like a water pipe getting stuck inside, and food doesn't go down easily.
- Eosinophilic: This refers to a type of white blood cell in our body. These are called ``Eosinophils.'' These cells are part of our immune system. They usually work against parasites and allergies.
Now let's put these two together. Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) is a condition in which these cells called ``Eosinophils``, which are stimulated by an allergy, accumulate in the walls of our esophagus, causing the esophagus to swell and narrow. Simply put, this is an allergic condition that affects the esophagus.
It is not a contagious disease. Nor is it something serious like cancer. However, if not managed properly, it can be very disruptive to life.
What is it really like to live with EoE? - Let's learn from Ryan's story
Ryan is a young man living with EoE. He was diagnosed with the condition when he was two years old. According to his mother, "He was very sick from the day he was born. He didn't gain weight, he didn't grow properly (failure to thrive), he vomited when fed, he refused to eat." These are the first signs that a young child may show when they have EoE.
But the best part is, it's a treatable condition. Ryan is now a successful, happy man. He says: "People with EoE can live very happy and healthy lives. It's important to understand that it's not the end of the world. It's not something that should derail your life. You can live the life you want. EoE just makes you think about certain things a little more."
Ryan's story gives us great hope and courage, doesn't it?
What are the common symptoms of EoE?
The symptoms of EoE can vary slightly depending on age, but here are some common symptoms:
| Symptom | Simply put... |
|---|---|
| Difficulty swallowing (Dysphagia) | Feeling of choking, pain, or having to swallow slowly when swallowing food. |
| Food Impaction | A food object is completely stuck in the esophagus, neither going down nor up. This is a medical emergency. |
| Heartburn | Persistent chest pain that does not subside despite taking medication for gastritis. |
| Chest pain | Chest tightness or pain, especially when eating. |
| Regurgitation | Undigested food coming back up into the throat. |
| Characteristics of young children | Refusal to eat, vomiting, failure to gain weight, and poor growth. |
What do you do if food gets stuck?
This is very important. If a food object is completely stuck in the esophagus, meaning you can't swallow even a little, it is a medical emergency. You should go to the nearest hospital emergency room (ETU) immediately. Do not try to remove it at home.
How EoE affects eating, drinking and social life
Food is one of the biggest challenges for someone with EoE, as the condition is triggered by certain foods. The most common foods that cause allergies are:
- Milk and dairy products
- Wheat
- Eggs
- Soy
- Seafood
- Nuts
Imagine how hard it would be to go to a party, a wedding, or a meal out with a friend if you couldn't eat these foods. You can't eat what everyone else is eating. When you eat from the store, you don't know exactly what went into making the food. This is why many people get depressed and try to distance themselves from society.
But Ryan overcame this challenge in a wonderful way. Because of the foods he couldn't eat, he learned to make delicious meals with the things he could eat together with his mother. This became his hobby. Even today, when he lives alone, he loves to make his own food and try new things.
The lesson we can learn from this is that our limitations can be our strengths . EoE gives you a great opportunity to learn a lot about food, practice cooking, and adopt a healthy eating pattern.
How is EoE diagnosed and managed?
If you have the symptoms we discussed earlier, the best thing to do is to see your family doctor. He or she will refer you to a gastroenterologist, a doctor who specializes in the stomach and intestines, if necessary.
The only way to confirm whether you have EoE is to have an endoscopy. This involves looking inside your esophagus with a camera on a thin tube. At the same time , a very small piece of tissue (biopsy) is taken from the wall of the esophagus and examined under a microscope to see if there are any eosinophils in it.
There are two main methods of treatment:
1. Dietary Therapy: Identifying the foods you are allergic to and eliminating them from your diet completely.
2. Medication: Using medications prescribed by your doctor to reduce swelling and inflammation in the esophagus.
You should talk to your doctor to decide which of these two methods is best for you, or how to use both.
Take-Home Message
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) is a treatable allergic condition that affects the esophagus.
- Difficulty swallowing, food sticking to the food, and chest pain are the main symptoms.
- Even with this condition, if you plan and think positively, you can live a completely normal, happy life.
- If you have symptoms like these, don't ignore them and definitely see your doctor.
- If a piece of food becomes completely stuck in the throat, it is an emergency. Go to a hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) immediately.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න