(ARA) – A chronic disease is on the rise in America that causes those diagnosed with it, including many children, to be unable to eat most foods.

Eosinophilic esophagitis, or EoE, is an inflammatory, gastrointestinal condition typically caused by food allergies. The disease causes swelling of the esophagus due to a build-up of white blood cells known as eosinophils. This inflammation causes painful and severe symptoms including difficulty swallowing, nausea, vomiting, regurgitation, severe heartburn, abdominal or chest pain and weight loss.

Doctors aren’t sure of the exact cause of eosinophilic esophagitis, but recent research has shown that it may be related to other allergic diseases such as hay fever, asthma and food allergies.

Diagnosing EoE

Suspicion of EoE is based on clinical signs and symptoms and the findings of increased eosinophils in the esophagus. For diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis, a gastroenterologist will perform a biopsy using an endoscopy (a camera inserted into the esophagus) to measure the number of eosinophils. Because other medical conditions – like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) – mimic EoE symptoms and can also show eosinophils in the esophagus, physicians need to rule out GERD before a confirmatory diagnosis of EoE can be made.

Treating and managing EoE

While there is currently no cure for EoE, medical and nutrition therapy can alleviate symptoms and prevent further damage to the esophagus. For the short term, standard medications such as steroids are successful in resolving symptoms and reducing the number of eosinophils. Because of concern with side effects associated with long term steroid use, long term treatment requires nutrition therapy. Research has shown that an elemental diet with formulas like Neocate and E028 Splash are successful in reducing symptoms and eosinophils in children with EoE.

If a total elemental diet cannot be used, then primary nutrition therapy is a food elimination diet where children are advised to avoid all confirmed allergic foods, including dairy, egg, wheat and tree nuts. Elimination diets are often so restrictive that they may result in poor intake of essential nutrients, like protein, calories, calcium and vitamin D. For this reason, children on elimination diets can benefit from adding a special elemental hypoallergenic formula, such as Neocate or E028 Splash. These special formulas can provide a valuable source of essential nutrients missing in the elimination diet. Both Neocate and E028 Splash can be taken orally or through a feeding tube.

“These elemental formulas are made up of individual amino acids, the building blocks of protein, and are completely hypoallergenic,” says Dr. Steven Yannicelli, Ph.D., R.D., a registered dietitian, and vice president of medical and scientific affairs for Nutricia North America. “Because they are nutritionally complete, they allow children to grow and gain weight, despite their condition.”

Finding a cure for EoE

Doctors and researchers are working to identify the causes of EoE and hopefully find a cure. In the meantime, organizations like the American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders (APFED) are working to raise awareness of the disease and support this research.

If you’d like to learn more about eosinophilic esophagitis in children and its treatment, visit the Food Allergy Living blog.