Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Eosinophilic (pronounced “e-o-sin-o-FILL-ik”) esophagitis is inflammation in your esophagus, the tube that connects your mouth and stomach.

In this disease, white blood cells (eosinophils) collect in your esophagus and cause inflammation. Without treatment, this inflammation can lead to scar tissue and narrowing in your esophagus, so you have difficulty swallowing. For example, when you take a bite of food, that bite can’t easily move through your esophagus to your stomach. You may feel like something is stuck or moving slowly through your esophagus.

Eosinophilic esophagitis may cause heartburn, chest discomfort and regurgitation (spit up of food). Other less common symptoms are abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.

It’s a chronic (long-term) disease. There’s no cure for it, but there are treatments that help address the inflammation and manage your symptoms. Most people with eosinophilic esophagitis will need treatment for the rest of their lives.

How common is eosinophilic esophagitis?

Eosinophilic esophagitis once was rare, but the number of cases is increasing. It affects about 34 in 100,000 people. Anyone — from babies to adults — can have it.