Chronic Eosinophilic Esophagitis in Children

Abstract

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic immune/antigen-mediated disease of the esophagus, clinically characterized by symptoms related to esophageal dysfunction and histologically by inflammation with a predominance of eosinophils . Until recently, eosinophilic infiltration of the esophageal mucosa was considered a hallmark of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, over time, it became apparent that the esophagus, which is normally devoid of eosinophils, is an immunologically active organ capable of recruiting eosinophils in response to various stimuli. Currently, if gastrointestinal eosinophilia is limited to the esophagus, accompanied by characteristic symptoms, and other causes of esophageal eosinophilia are excluded, it is called EoE. Along with EoE, isolated or combined eosinophilic diseases of the stomach, small and large intestines are also possible, which differ in clinical picture and methods of therapy from isolated lesions of the esophagus.