[Eosinophilic esophagitis].
Eosinophilic esophagitis is a recent diagnosis, of growing interest and prevalence. It has to be considered by every physician when facing any adult or pediatric case of dysphagia, food impaction, and symptoms of GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) resistant to proton-pump inhibitor treatment. The diagnosis is made by combining clinical symptoms and endoscopic signs, supported by biopsies of the mucosa, which should show more than 15 eosinophils per high power field. The etiology seems to be of allergic origin, and a full immuno-allergic testing should be made. Recommendations for the treatment are to calm down the inflammatory process by proton-pump inhibitors, and to give topical steroids, keeping the systemic treatment for acute severe cases. In cases of esophageal stenoses, dilations can be undertaken, but with a high risk of recurrence.
Service d'ORL et de chirurgie cervico-faciale, CHUV, 1011 Lausanne. micaela.oedman@chuv.ch
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D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D057765:Eosinophilic Esophagitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans