Eosinophilic Esophagitis - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Eosinophilic Esophagitis is normally the soreness of easophagus due to the atypical permeation of eosinophils usually in allergic reactions. Eosinophils (pronounced as "ee-oh-sin-oh-fillz") are a type of white blood corpuscles. They won't be having the same number as that of normal white blood cells. Eosinophils play a key role in the defense mechanism of the human body. Small germs or parasites are destroyed by the white blood cells. The Eosinophils attack the larger germs by penetrating through their cell walls. When the human body detects the presence an intruder, some antibodies are produced to counter them. The Eosinophils are a part of the antibodies. The reactive chemicals produced in the process are that which causes the allergic reactions. The Eosinophils, due to some allergic reactions, start attacking the cells in the esophagus, which causes the esophagus to contract and this causes the disease situation called as Eosinophilic Esophagitis.

Causes

Gastroesophageal reflux is also having the same symptoms as that of Eosinophilic Esophagitis. Thus it is quiet common to get confused with each other and even wrongly treated for long periods. Eosinophilic Esophagitis is considered as an allergy caused by food items and usually a class of blood disorder.

Eosinophilic Esophagitis has got the same degree of affinity towards both class of humans and to all age groups. It causes severe difficulty in taking in food. Abdominal pain, digestion problems and vomiting are common problems caused due to Eosinophilic Esophagitis. If it occurs in children, they experiences sudden weight loss and dizziness. Once you are affected with the disease it is very difficult to cop up with it.

Symptoms

The main and evident symptom of Eosinophilic Esophagitis is the difficulty in the taking in of food. It causes pain in gastrointestinal pathway which makes the processes of eating and digestion really thorny. The symptoms are swallowing difficulty, nausea, weight loss, pain in abdomen and chest, diarrhea, vomiting and chocking. These conditions may be present in a person even years before detecting Eosinophilic Esophagitis in him. So be careful enough in deciding to consult a doctor or not, in case of ailments like this.

Treatment

The basic treatment given to a person affected is finding out the allergens that initiated the problem and avoiding it. This is one of the major problems faced by the people who have Eosinophilic Esophagitis, as they have to depend upon food supplements largely, because even meager components of the food may cause the disease to aggravate. Elimination diet as well as food trial is seen as usual in the case of people who are affected by Eosinophilic Esophagitis. After controlling the diet the procedure to open op the contracted esophagus starts. The process is called as dilation. In certain cases the esophagal contraction becomes severe an in such cases a tube has to be installed to make the passage of food and water easy.

That disease like any other disease is mentally and physically disturbing. Once diagnosed as a patient of this disease, there will be a notable change in his life. He has to live a well disciplined and restricted life. He has to bring about solid changes in his food habits and even the lifestyle.