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Medical Author:

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

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Medical Editor:

Bhupinder Anand, MD

In this Article

• What is eosinophilic esophagitis?
• What are the symptoms of eosinophilic esophagitis?
• How does eosinophilic esophagitis cause dysphagia?
• What are the other causes of dysphagia or solid food?
• How is eosinophilic esophagitis diagnosed?
• How is eosinophilic esophagitis treated?
• What about elimination diets for treating eosinophilic esophagitis?
• What is the future of eosinophilic esophagitis?
• Eosinophilic Esophagitis At A Glance
• Patient Comments: Eosinophilic Esophagitis - Diet
• Patient Comments: Eosinophilic Esophagitis - Symptoms and Signs
• Patient Comments: Eosinophilic Esophagitis - Experience
• Find a local Gastroenterologist in your town
• Eosinophilic Esophagitis Index

• Eosinophilic esophagitis is an inflammatory condition of the esophagus that affects both children and adults, and men more than women.
  
  
• Eosinophilic gastroenteritis may be due allergy to an as yet unknown food allergen.
  
  
• The major symptom in adults with eosinophilic esophagitis is dysphagia for solid food.
  
  
• Eosinophilic esophagitis stiffens the esophagus so that solid foods have difficulty passing through the esophagus and into the stomach.
  
  
• Other common causes of dysphagia for solid food are esophageal strictures and Schatzki rings.
  
  
• The diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis usually is made during an EGD, performed for the evaluation of dysphagia. The diagnosis is confirmed by biopsy of the esophagus.
  
  
• The treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis is with proton pump inhibitors and swallowed fluticasone propionate. Gentle esophageal dilatation is used when meditations fail to relieve dysphagia.

REFERENCE: eMedicine.com. Esophagitis.
<http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/775050-overview>

Previous contributing author and editor: Dennis Lee, MD and Jay W. Marks, MD.