The eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is considered a relatively new disease when compared to other gastrointestinal pathologies. But in the last decade, specialists have observed a exponential increase in the incidence and prevalence of this pathology throughout the world.
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So much so, that the Spanish Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (SEAIC) estimates that in Spain this allergic disease Chronic affects more than 45,000 people.
And yesterday, like every May 22, the European Day of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE)with the final purposeto raise our voices and ignite hope in those affected by EoE.
Because, as explained by the Spanish Society of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Pediatric Nutrition
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The launch of the #EAT campaign It is an invitation to fight for turning each meal into a challenge, where the fear of suffering can be overwhelming. It’s time to change that! Feeding ourselves should be an act of celebration and personal affirmation. Let’s reconnect with the pleasure of eating, choosing foods that nourish us without harming us, and celebrate each bite as a victory over fear.
Eosinophilic esophagitis, a complex disease
Experts assure that It is a complex disease and its exact mechanism is not yet understood. completely.
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It’s about the buildup of a type of white blood cell (eosinophils) in the pathway that connects the mouth to the stomach (esophagus)due to an allergy to a food or other allergen.
As indicated by the Dr. Joan Domenechallergist and member of the SEAIC Eosinophilic Esophagitis subcommittee.
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“This gives rise to a eosinophilic inflammation in the esophageal epithelium causing dysfunction of the same, manifesting with the characteristic clinical symptoms of the disease.
“Currently, further research is required to clarify the immunological and allergic processes underlying EoE and thus develop more precise and effective therapeutic approaches.”
Causes still undetermined
As explained by Dr. Rosario Gonzálezallergist and member of the SEAIC Eosinophilic Esophagitis subcommittee.
“While it is true that No single definitive cause has been identified for eosinophilic esophagitis., the combination of genetic and environmental factors is believed to play an important role in its development. It has been suggested that changes in dietary habits, exposure to allergens and genetic predisposition may contribute to its appearance,”
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“In fact, It is being studied whether the increase in the use in recent decades of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers in industrial food production and the production of genetically modified crops could be related to the increase in the development of food allergies,” adds this expert.
Symptoms of eosinophilic esophagitis
As for the symptoms, the most common are:
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Problems swallowing (dysphagia).
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Sensation that food is stuck in the esophagus after swallowing.
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Pain in the center of the chest, which can be confused with a heart attack.
- Acidity.
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Regurgitation.
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Weightloss.
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Anemia.
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persistent cough
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Vomiting.
Why are allergists essential in the treatment of this disease?
Although it is a pathology that It affects part of the digestive system, it is an allergic disease in which the allergists They play a fundamental role in both diagnosis and treatment.
They are best suited to evaluate and manage allergic reactionsand they can also perform the necessary tests to identify possible allergic triggers.
Additionally, it is these specialists who can recommend specific elimination diets based on allergy testing and provide management guidelines for symptom control.
But also, as the doctors emphasize:
“A high number of patients who suffer from EoE have other associated allergic pathologies.for example
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Asthma
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Rhinitis
- Conjunctivitis
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Dermatitis
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Food allergies, etc.
All of them require specialized diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. And this association is due to genetic predisposition and the underlying immune response shared in these two conditions.”
However, allergists recognize that The multidisciplinary approach is essential for diagnosis and appropriate treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis, since it is a pathology that involves the gastrointestinal system and is associated with multiple symptoms and other types of allergic complications in a high number of cases.
“It is essential to have collaboration between:
- allergists
- Gastroenterologists
- Pathologists
- Dietitians
- Psychologists and other specialists for comprehensive management.
“Each specialty contributes its experience to evaluate and treat specific aspects of the disease. Close communication between the health professionals involved is essential to achieve effective management of the disease,” the doctors insist.
How it is diagnosed and how it is treated
Once symptoms occur, the diagnosis of this allergic disease is carried out by performing a digestive endoscopyto collect samples from the esophagus which will be analyzed in order to determine the presence of eosinophil accumulation.
Once the diagnosis is confirmed, disease specialists have several therapeutic options depending on the patient.
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The first of them are the dietary changesaimed at eliminating the food that is causing this allergic reaction.
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You can also resort to the use of corticosteroids, antihistamines or drugs intended to reduce stomach acidity. All of them aim to reduce inflammation of the esophagus.
Disease investigation
Despite the increase in its incidence, much is still unknown about this disease. For this reason, SEAIC experts insist on the need to continue researching this pathology.
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“In recent years we have focused our efforts in trying to describe a possible allergic phenotype in patients with EoE. We have observed that sensitization to panallergens, the phenomena of pollen/food cross-reactivity and environmental allergiescan play a very important role in the appearance and evolution of the disease in a significant number of patients with this pathology.”
In this sense, experts conclude that the identification of phenotypes in general and, more specifically, in diseases such as asthma or EoE is essential to be able to offer patients personalized treatments.