Eosinophilic Esophagitis in Denver, CO
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Find a ProviderWhat is eosinophilic esophagitis?
Eosinophilic esophagitis or EoE is an inflammatory disease of the esophagus. When a certain type of white blood cell called an eosinophil accumulates in the lining of the esophagus, the esophagus will become swollen (resulting in esophagitis). The accumulation of the eosinophils is often a reaction to acid reflux or an allergic reaction to food and allergens. EoE may be suffered by individuals of every age. However, it is suffered more often by younger, male Caucasians, who make up nearly 75% of cases. At Denver Digestive Health Specialists, our GI doctors provide personalized treatment for this condition. If you are diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis, call your nearest Denver, CO location to request a consultation.
What are some of the causes of eosinophilic esophagitis?
The number of people being diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis has been increasing at a rapid pace due to the uptick in asthma and allergies. Some of the common causes of EoE include:
- Dysphagia and impaction (difficulty swallowing, or having food become lodged in the esophagus)
- Chest pain or abdominal pain
- Esophageal damage (inflammation of the esophagus might cause scarring of the tissue and esophageal narrowing)
- Allergic reaction (to pollen, food, etc.)
Some of the risk factors associated with being diagnosed with EoE include:
- Genetics (if someone in your family has EoE, you are more likely to be diagnosed)
- Being male (men are more likely to suffer from EoE)
- Geography (people who live in dry, cold conditions have a greater likelihood of being diagnosed)
- Allergies and asthma
- Season (a person is more likely to be diagnosed with EoE in seasons with higher levels of pollen and other allergens)
What are the symptoms of eosinophilic esophagitis?
The symptoms of eosinophilic esophagitis may differ slightly in children and adults. The main symptoms for adults might include:
- Food getting stuck in the esophagus when eating
- A cough
- Acid reflux
- Upper stomach pain
- No response to acid reflux medication
- Chest pain
- Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
The typical symptoms in children might include:
- Abdominal or stomach pain
- Vomiting
- Difficulty feeding (infants)
- Failure to thrive, weight loss, malnutrition
- Struggles with eating (children)
- Impaction (food getting stuck in the esophagus)
- Dysphagia
If you or a member of your family are experiencing these symptoms in any combination, or you require over-the-counter (OTC) heartburn medication more frequently than twice a week, it may be time to visit a Denver Digestive Health Specialists Gi provider.
What are the treatments for eosinophilic esophagitis?
The treatment for EoE mainly focuses on treating the condition's symptoms. In the event that you are suffering symptoms as a result of allergies to foods, your gastroenterologist is likely to direct you to abstain from consuming trigger foods. People are often directed to follow the six-food elimination diet (SFED), holding out wheat, milk, eggs, nuts, soy, fish, and shellfish from their diet for a certain period of time. Symptoms are recorded closely, and certain foods are carefully added back into the diet to identify which foods are to blame for the response. Additionally, certain medications might be prescribed, for example, a proton pump inhibitor or topical steroids. If symptoms remain, your physician may wish to try esophageal dilation. This is a treatment to assist in the stretching of your esophagus to make swallowing easier.
Personalized care for eosinophilic esophagitis
If you or someone you love are suffering from eosinophilic esophagitis, you can find expert help and compassionate care through the skilled physicians at Denver Digestive Health Specialists. Our board-certified GI providers employ a patient-focused approach to treat and help manage conditions like eosinophilic esophagitis to improve your health and well-being. To connect with a provider who specializes in EoE treatments in Denver, CO, please reach out to your nearest location to request a consultation.
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Dr. Siegel is amazing. He saved my life! Found my issue early and we took care of it. He has been my doctor for years! I highly recommend and respect him and his MA is awesome! Michelle is the best MA in the world! I have many specialist doctors and Dr. Seigel is a favorite.
I haven’t been in the office for my appointment yet but my experience on the phone with Debra was great! I’ve been on the phone quite a bit with medical receptionists and she gave the best experience which was comforting thank you! Will leave another after my appointment next month :)
He’s awesome. He listens and really cares to get to the bottom of the problem.
Very knowledgeable!
He was very good at explaining the pros and cons...
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