In South Africa, eosinophilic Esophagitis is managed by allergy & immunologists. Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammation of the esophagus driven by type-2 allergic responses to food and aeroallergens, with eosinophils invading a tissue that normally has none. It affects roughly 1 in 2,000 adults and children in North America and Europe — prevalence has risen more than tenfold over 25 years, faster than any other chronic GI disease.
Eosinophilic esophagitis (ICD-10: K20.0) is a chronic, type-2 immune-mediated disease defined by symptoms of esophageal dysfunction plus dense eosinophilic inflammation isolated to the esophagus, with at least 15 eosinophils per high-power field on biopsy after secondary causes are excluded. The 2018 AGREE international consensus dropped the previous requirement of a PPI trial before diagnosis — PPI-responsive eosinophilia is now considered part of the EoE spectrum, not a separate entity. Pathogenesis is driven by food and aeroallergen exposure in genetically predisposed individuals, which triggers a Th2 cytokine cascade involving interleukin-5, interleukin-13, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin. Eosinophils, mast cells, and T cells infiltrate the esophageal mucosa and submucosa, releasing granule proteins and TGF-beta.
The key symptoms of Eosinophilic Esophagitis are: Slowly progressive solid-food dysphagia — patients describe food sticking, taking longer to eat, drinking more water with meals, and learning to chew thoroughly or avoid dry meats and breads (the so-called 'IMPACT' adaptive behaviors)., Recurrent food impaction in which a piece of meat, bread, or rice obstructs the esophagus and requires emergency endoscopy to remove — EoE is the cause of roughly 50% of adult food impactions presenting to emergency departments., Heartburn or chest discomfort that often does not fully respond to a standard course of acid-suppressing medication, prompting endoscopy that uncovers EoE., Odynophagia (painful swallowing), especially after dry, coarse, or temperature-extreme foods., In children, feeding refusal, prolonged meal times, food selectivity (eating only soft or smooth textures), vomiting after meals, abdominal pain, and failure to thrive., Regurgitation of undigested food shortly after eating, sometimes confused with classic acid reflux., Nocturnal cough or aspiration episodes when retained food refluxes during sleep..
Diagnosis requires two criteria together: symptoms of esophageal dysfunction (dysphagia, food impaction, heartburn, feeding problems in children) and at least 15 eosinophils per high-power field on esophageal biopsy. Endoscopy with biopsy is the only way to make the diagnosis — no blood test, scan, or symptom score replaces it. The 2018 AGREE consensus removed the prior requirement of a 6-8 week PPI trial before diagnosis: patients now receive the EoE label on biopsy alone, and PPI is reframed as a first-line treatment rather than a diagnostic test. At endoscopy the clinician inspects for the EREFS findings — edema, fixed rings, exudates, furrows, and strictures (Hirano 2013 score) — and takes at least six biopsies from the proximal and distal esophagus, since eosinophil distribution can be patchy. Other causes of esophageal eosinophilia must be excluded, including reflux disease, eosinophilic gastroenteritis with esophageal involvement, achalasia, Crohn's disease, hypereosinophilic syndrome, drug hypersensitivity, infection, and connective-tissue disease. Allergy testing (skin prick, specific IgE, atopy patch testing) does not reliably identify EoE food triggers and is not recommended to guide elimination diets. The 2020 AGA/JTF joint clinical guideline recommends repeat endoscopy after 8-12 weeks of any new therapy to confirm histologic remission, because symptom improvement does not always correlate with disappearance of eosinophilic inflammation. Esophageal narrowing should be evaluated by careful inspection during endoscopy or by a barium esophagram with a 13 mm tablet challenge if a subtle stricture is suspected.
With sustained treatment, the long-term outlook for EoE is excellent. Histologic remission can be achieved in 60-90% of patients on appropriate therapy and prevents progression of fibrosis. Existing strictures can be improved by esophageal dilation, and submucosal fibrosis partially reverses on long-term steroid or dupilumab therapy. Untreated, EoE is chronic and progressive — each year of unrecognized disease raises the risk of a fixed stricture by roughly 9% (Schoepfer 2013), and food impaction risk continues lifelong. EoE does not increase esophageal cancer risk, and life expectancy is normal. The major prognostic factors are time from symptom onset to diagnosis, adherence to long-term therapy, and presence of atopic comorbidities (which often need parallel treatment). After successful induction, withdrawal of therapy leads to histologic relapse in over 80% of adults within 12 months, so treatment is essentially lifelong, similar to asthma or eczema management.
Refer to gastroenterology for any adult with recurrent food impaction, progressive solid-food dysphagia, heartburn that fails 8 weeks of PPI, or suspected esophageal stricture. Children with feeding refusal, vomiting, or failure to thrive should be referred to pediatric gastroenterology. Allergy referral is appropriate when atopic comorbidities (asthma, rhinitis, eczema, IgE-mediated food allergy) need separate management. Specialist input is mandatory before starting dupilumab, before complex elimination diets, and before esophageal dilation.
Find specialists →Symptom improvement on PPI, swallowed steroid, or dupilumab typically begins within 2-4 weeks. Histologic remission, the more meaningful endpoint, is assessed at 8-12 weeks of therapy by repeat endoscopy. Dietary elimination requires 6-8 weeks for full effect, with reintroduction phases adding several months and serial endoscopies. After esophageal dilation, immediate symptom improvement is common, but repeat dilations at 4-6 week intervals are often needed to reach the target esophageal diameter (typically 16-18 mm). Maintenance therapy is then continued indefinitely with surveillance endoscopy every 6-12 months until stable, then every 1-2 years.
Regular physical activity is encouraged and is not restricted by EoE itself. Avoid heavy exertion immediately after a meal if reflux is a factor; otherwise normal exercise is safe even during active disease.
Look for a gastroenterologist with specific EoE experience — high biopsy yield (at least 6 biopsies per endoscopy), familiarity with EREFS scoring, comfort with stepwise dilation, and a working relationship with a dietitian and allergist. Centers offering EndoFLIP, formal EoE clinics, or research participation tend to deliver more consistent outcomes. In children, board-certified pediatric gastroenterology is essential because growth and feeding-development considerations differ substantially from adult care.
Medically reviewed by AIHealz Medical Editorial Board · May 12, 2026
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