Useful tools

Allergen: A substance that your immune system mistakenly identifies as a threat, causing an inflammatory reaction in some people. Common allergens include pollen and certain foods.³

Allergist: A doctor who specializes in treating allergies, asthma, and other immune conditions.⁴

Biologics: Biologics are medications designed to target one of the sources of inflammation in your immune system. If you have EoE, a biologic treatment may reduce inflammation in your esophagus and help to relieve your symptoms.⁵

Biopsy: The process of taking a sample of tissue from the body to examine it more closely. A biopsy of the esophagus is needed to properly diagnose EoE.^4,6

Diet modifications: Diet modifications involve changing what you eat or the way you eat to help manage conditions like EoE. These can include elimination and/or elemental diets (defined below). However, it is important to discuss any modification with your doctor first, to make sure you are getting proper nutrition.⁵

Dysphagia: Difficulty swallowing foods or liquids, arising from the throat or esophagus – one of the most common EoE symptoms.^7,8

Elemental diet: A diet that provides all essential nutrients in liquid form, making food easy to digest. It may be implemented to help improve your EoE symptoms.⁵

Elimination diet: A management option used if you have EoE that excludes common ‘trigger’ foods from your diet to see if it helps improve symptoms. These foods often include wheat, milk, egg, nuts, soy, fish, and shellfish.⁵

Endoscopy: A procedure used to visually examine your throat and esophagus. It is done with the help of a tiny camera on the end of a long, flexible tube. A doctor (gastroenterologist) performs an endoscopy to diagnose conditions and prescribe the appropriate treatment.^5,4 Endscopy may also be used to assess whether your EoE is getting worse.⁹

ENT specialist: A doctor (otolaryngologist) who specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions relating to the ears, nose and throat, as well as the head and neck.¹⁰

Eosinophils: Normal type of white blood cells that are produced in your bones and migrate to the rest of the body. Eosinophils work with other white blood cells to fight foreign substances that invade the body.¹¹

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE): A long-term (chronic) immune condition where the lining of your esophagus – the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach – is inflamed.⁵

Esophageal dilation: A surgical procedure where your doctor dilates, or stretches, a narrowed area of your esophagus.¹²

Gastroenterologist: A doctor (specialist) who specializes in the health of the digestive system – including the esophagus, stomach, and intestines.¹³

Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD): GERD is caused by stomach acid flowing back into the esophagus, known as acid reflux, leading to heartburn, irritation, and difficulty swallowing. Although symptoms may overlap in EoE and GERD, they’re treated differently.^14-17

Immune system: The defense system that protects your body against harmful substances and invaders, such as bacteria and viruses. The immune system is made up of many different cell types and organs.¹⁸

Inflammation: Your body's response to damage caused by bacteria, harmful substances, injury, or other factors.¹⁹

Otolarynologist: Otherwise known as an ENT doctor. A specialist in diagnosing and treating conditions relating to the ears, nose and throat, as well as the head and neck.¹⁰

Pediatrician: A doctor who treats illnesses, injuries, and other health conditions specifically in infants, children, and adolescents.²⁰

Primary care physician: A doctor who helps manage your overall health. They are typically your main point of contact for basic medical care.²¹

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs): PPIs are medications typically used to treat a range of gastrointestinal disorders. They reduce the amount of acid the stomach makes, which may help reduce inflammation. They are also commonly used in EoE to help alleviate symptoms.²²

Swallowed topical steroids: Topical steroids (corticosteroids) are a type of drug that reduce inflammation. For treating EoE symptoms, they can be taken as a slurry – a liquid with a thickener, such as a sweetener, to help it taste better – or as a powder that requires an inhaler.^23,24

Type 2 inflammation: Your body's response to a trigger, such as an allergy, that causes your EoE symptoms. Type 2 inflammation stays even when the trigger that caused it goes away and can result in increased inflammation in the esophagus.^25,26