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Taylor Fullwood Mrs. HenselEnglish IV20 April 2015 Eosinophilic Esophagitis Eosinophilic Esophagitis, also known as EE or EoE, is an allergic inflammatory disease that affects from one to four of every 10,000 people in the United States. EE is an uncommon condition within the esophagus that has an impact on a small number of people. The wall of the esophagus becomes filled with large amounts of eosinophils, which are known as white blood cells. Eosinophilic Esophagitis affects both children and adults, however men are more commonly affected than women. The main symptom in adults who have Eosinophilic Esophagitis is dysphagia, but in children they experience many symptoms including abdominal pain and failure to thrive. Eosinophilic refers to the eosinophils (white blood cells), which is a cell that helps promote inflammation (Idaho). The Idaho Gastroenterology Associates state that due to an allergen the eosinophils can mount up in tissues, such as “the esophagus, the stomach, the small intestines, and sometimes the blood.” Esophagitis is inflammation of the esophagus due to several causes, like eosinophils. The main cause of esophagitis would be acid reflux, which could cause heartburn and have a result in the cause of ulcers lining the esophagus (Idaho). More causes are very uncommon, such as viruses, medication being stuck in the esophagus, and radiation therapy (Idaho). Several conditions can cause esophagitis, but it is more commonly seen to have been caused by GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). GERD can infuriate with the esophagus, which is the leading cause to esophagitis (Nordqvist). Vomiting, nausea, or heartburn are all non-specific risk factors of GERD. Having these risk factors can “raise the chances of developing reflux esophagitis” (Nordqvist). GERD is caused by several risk factors, which can cause reflux esophagitis. The esophageal sphincter is a valve that helps keep acids from going back into the esophagus, but if there is any error with the flap opening and closing “the stomach acids can reflux…” (Nordqvist). “When there is an allergic reaction or a parasitic infection, the numbers of eosinophils in the blood usually rise”, if the eosinophils in the blood fill the esophagus it could cause an inflammation (Nordqvist). Eosinophilic Esophagitis, EoE, is known to have some type of family record or some common allergy. Patients who have EoE are more than likely to suffer from other types of allergies, such as “… asthma, hay fever, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis” (Idaho). Although EoE is most commonly caused by GERD, doctors still believe that the different type of allergies may play a big role. Doctors say that the eosinophils are present in the esophagus, because they were trying to fight away the disease (allergies) within the esophagus, which caused the esophagitis. Adults and children who have EoE, have different symptoms to occur. The main symptom seen in adults is dysphagia, which is difficulty in swallowing (Idaho). The dysphagia can occur when eating, drinking, or even taking medications. Other occurring symptoms within the adult is food impactions. The food impactions are known whenever the food gets lodged in the esophagus and is not able to pass down into the stomach (Idaho). If the patient experiences any problems, such as the food impaction “an endoscopy is often needed to help relieve this obstruction” (ACAAI). In infants and toddlers, EoE can cause irritability, problems with feeding, and poor weight gain. Due to the inflammation within the esophagus, eating could resemble in some kind of pain, which could cause the children to not have any thrive for eating (Furuta). Eating is obviously an important component in life, when this is broken the social life, family, and even school is brought down to a low manner. In older children, the disease can cause reflux, regurgitation, vomiting, and/or abdominal pain. In children, “the pain may be non-specific, such as abdominal pain and [GERD]” (Furuta). The way these symptoms occur, such as abdominal pain, vomiting, and failure to thrive are unknown (Idaho). Adults who have Eosinophilic Esophagitis experience dysphagia as their only symptom; however children experience many symptoms including abdominal pain and failure to thrive. Eosinophilic Esophagitis is an inflammatory condition of the esophagus that affects both children and adults, and men more than women. EoE is caused mostly by GERD and allergies, but the allergic reactions is not truly known. Eosinophilic Esophagitis is not a disease that people outgrow and treatment into and throughout adulthood will be necessary. Works Cited "Eosinophilic Esophagitis." ACAAI. American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 15 Jan. 2015. Web. 12 Mar. 2015."Eosinophilic Esophagitis”. Idaho Gastroenterology Associates. Idaho Gastroenterology Associates, n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2015.Furuta, Glenn T. “Eosinophilic Esophagitis in Children and Adults.” Gastroenterology & Hepatology. Millennium Medical Publishing, 4 Nov. 2008. Web. 18 Feb. 2015. Nordqvist, Christian. “What is Esophagitis? How is Esophagitis Treated?” Medical News Today. MediLexicon International, 12 Sept. 2014. Web. 18 Feb. 2015. ................
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