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Learn more about the causes of Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EOE) Including the risk factors for developing this condition.
Like other food allergy and gastrointestinal (GI)-related disorders, healthcare professionals are still searching for an exact cause for Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE). They are still unsure of why some people get EoE and others don’t. People with EoE can also have asthma, other food allergies, and/or seasonal allergies.
There are four (4) common risk factors found in EoE:
Sex: The sex of a child can be a risk factor for EoE. Males make up three-quarters of those diagnosed with the condition, but girls can have it too.
Race: Caucasians and South Asians are more likely to have EoE.
Atopy: Atopy is a genetic tendency to develop an allergic disease such as rhinitis, asthma, environmental allergies, and eczema. Two-thirds of those with EoE have some atopy; however, one-third of those with EoE are not atopic.
Family History: If there is a family history, a child is at greater risk.
EoE is commonly triggered by two or more food allergens, the most common being milk protein. Symptoms appear when a large number of eosinophils collect in the esophagus. It is unknown why the allergies cause these white blood cells to move to the esophagus. However, what we do know is that EoE is a chronic condition that usually persists in most individuals. We can only manage and alleviate the symptoms.
EoE is typically a food allergy-related condition that is still under research. The causes are not clear yet.
GERD and EoE can sometimes be hard to differentiate because their symptoms might be so similar. These can include vomiting, burping, irritability, poor weight gain, refusing foods and trouble swallowing. However, their causes are quite different. Here is a brief differentiation of the two.
GERD is diagnosed as such when the infant’s gastroesophageal reflux (GER) occurs more than twice a week. This is when the esophageal sphincter opens spontaneously or does not close properly, allowing contents of the stomach to come up into the esophagus.
* *Neocate is not indicated for the management of GERD It is indicated for management of GER due to cow milk allergy
EoE may be investigated if GERD symptoms do not go away, even after treatment. But EoE can only be diagnosed with the help of a biopsy of the esophageal tissue. Doctors need to detect the presence of a white blood cell – the eosinophil – in high numbers to confirm EoE.
This technique involves eliminating all foods from the diet and replacing them with an amino acid-based (elemental) formula. Foods considered safe are gradually reintroduced in the diet, while maintaining the formula as the main source of nutrition.
The patient undergoes a series of tests to evaluate potential allergenic foods. The results are typically interpreted by a specialist doctor (like an Allergist) and used as a guide to eliminate foods from the diet. While success is not guaranteed with this approach, some individuals still see improvement.
Elimination of common allergens from the diet (eggs, dairy, wheat and soy) must be determined by a medical professional or dietitian. If symptoms improve, each food allergen is typically reintroduced into the child’s diet one at a time to see if symptoms reappear.
Neocate® is a family of hypoallergenic, amino acid-based specialized formulas for use under medical supervision and is indicated for cow milk allergy, multiple food allergies and related GI and allergic conditions. Talk to your healthcare provider about product recommendations.
Neocate Nutra is suitable for use in children and infants older than 6 months of age (not suitable as sole source of nutrition). Neocate Nutra is not intended for bottle or tube feeding.
Remington is a young adult who was diagnosed with Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE), at the age of 3, and was removed from all foods at the age of 4. His sole source of nutrition is still Neocate® Splash, as currently he has no safe foods in his diet. Nonetheless, he goes to school, plays baseball, and works out daily to stay in shape.*
*Individual results may vary.
**A patient’s story from the US
Karyn was diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) at 17 months. Shortly after introducing Neocate®, her parents noticed her symptoms improved. Nowadays, Karyn uses Neocate® Junior at home and brings Neocate® Splash to school for her lunch. She likes how it’s so similar to other kids’ drink boxes.*
*Individual results may vary.
**A patient’s story from the US
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