Eosinophilic oesophagitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the oesophagus that can lead to serious complications and significantly affect quality of life if not treated promptly. For this reason, it is always necessary to consult a specialist and maintain follow-up even if you are asymptomatic.
While it doesn't represent an immediate threat to life, eosinophilic esophagitis is serious when evolves into problems such as stenosis o impactación de alimentos.
Causes of eosinophilic oesophagitis
This is an increasingly common condition and is particularly prevalent in young men with an atopic disposition and other allergies, such as mite or pollen allergies.
It mainly relates to Immunological disturbances, especially allergic reactions to food, but it is a multifactorial disease that does not depend on a single trigger. The main causes are:
- Food allergies are one of the most frequent causes. Among the foods that most often trigger this reaction are animal milk, wheat, or eggs. The oesophagus responds with inflammation because it identifies these proteins as dangerous substances, and an autoimmune response is generated, which is the basis of the disease. These are non-IgE-mediated allergies, which is why conventional skin tests (prick tests) are not useful for their diagnosis. In many cases, moreover, it is not possible to precisely identify the triggering food.
- Environmental allergies Factors like pollen or dust mites can cause or, in some cases, worsen these symptoms.
- Genetic factors Those with a family history of allergic diseases are more prone to developing them.
- Immunological dysfunction Some people have alterations in the regulation of their immune system, which causes chronic inflammation in the oesophagus. For this reason, it is often associated with other autoimmune diseases, such as asthma, hypothyroidism, or coeliac disease.
Symptoms of eosinophilic oesophagitis
Depending on the patient's age and the stage of the illness, the symptoms of the illness vary. In many cases, they can be confused with the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux, which is why it's important that, if you experience any of these symptoms, you consult a specialist.
The main symptoms are:
- Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)Patients feel that food does not go down the oesophagus properly or that it gets stuck there. This is one of the most frequent symptoms.
- Food impaction if you feel a piece of food is completely stuck in your oesophagus.
- Chest pain It's a pain similar to a heart attack.
- Nausea or vomiting: They are more frequent in young children. If it also presents with other symptoms such as loss of appetite or delayed growth, it is essential to consult a specialist.
- Unexplained weight loss This often happens in adults who, due to fear of choking, reduce their food intake.
It is important to note that eosinophilic oesophagitis is serious if not diagnosed and treated in time, as chronic inflammation can lead to irreversible damage to the oesophageal tissue.
If you suffer from any of these symptoms, it is important that you consult a specialist before the illness progresses and becomes more serious. Once the illness has been diagnosed and controlled, it is necessary to maintain always follow-up, even if you don't have symptoms.
The importance of monitoring in eosinophilic oesophagitis
This illness may seem mild when there are no symptoms, but if not properly managed over time, eosinophilic oesophagitis is serious. Therefore, it is essential to maintain regular medical follow-ups, at least once a year, even if the patient is feeling well.
Stopping treatment or ceasing to see your specialist can allow the disease to progress silently and lead to complications such as oesophageal fibrosis or difficulty swallowing. You should not wait until you have serious symptoms before seeking medical advice; regular monitoring is key to preventing the disease from progressing
How is it diagnosed?
diagnosis is made through a Gastroscopy, through which a biopsy is taken to detect the presence of eosinophils infiltrating the oesophageal epithelium. Once analysed, our specialist gastroenterologists will carry out treatment to slow the progression of the disease.
If you or a family member has trouble swallowing or you suspect any of these symptoms, don't ignore it. It's important to remember that eosinophilic oesophagitis is serious and Early diagnosis and close monitoring are the best tools for avoiding complications.
