Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHome Remedies and LifestylePrescriptionsSurgeries and ProceduresComplementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)Frequently Asked QuestionsNext in Eosinophilic Esophagitis GuideLiving With Eosinophilic Esophagitis
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Table of Contents
Home Remedies and Lifestyle
Prescriptions
Surgeries and Procedures
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Eosinophilic Esophagitis Guide
Treatment for eosinophilic esophagitis usually involves dietary changes and prescription medications. This article will describe the different types of treatment options for eosinophilic esophagitis, as well as any side effects you need to be aware of.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
An Overview of Eosinophilia
One of the most powerful lifestyle changes you can make to manage eosinophilic esophagitis is to your diet. Because this chronic immune disease has been linked tofood allergies, eliminating certain foods from your regular diet may reduce inflammation in the esophagus and improve your symptoms.
Elimination Diet
In an elimination diet, certain foods are completely removed from the diet for a period of time. This approach allows you to notice if taking away a certain food or food group improves your symptoms, such asdifficulty swallowingor chest pain. If it does, you may consider permanently eliminating that food from your diet. Diets used to manage eosinophilic esophagitis include:
A Dietitian Can HelpIt is important to note that while these diets can be conducted at home, they usually require the support of adietitianand the rest of your medical team. Adjusting to an elimination diet is overwhelming. A dietitian can support you in choosing a variety of healthy foods and planning meals and snacks.
A Dietitian Can Help
It is important to note that while these diets can be conducted at home, they usually require the support of adietitianand the rest of your medical team. Adjusting to an elimination diet is overwhelming. A dietitian can support you in choosing a variety of healthy foods and planning meals and snacks.
Physicians have been successfully using certain medications to lower the number of eosinophils in the esophagus and improve symptoms. Medications commonly used to treat eosinophilic esophagitis include:
In 2024, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Eohilia (budesonide) for the treatment of EoE in people 11 years and older. It is the first and only approved oral treatment for EoE and is taken twice daily for 12 weeks.
What Are the Side Effects of Proton Pump Inhibitors?
Surgeries and Specialist-Driven Procedures
A surgical procedure calledesophageal dilationmay be needed if dietary changes and prescription medications have not been effective at relieving your symptoms. Over time, people with eosinophilic esophagitis experience a narrowing of their esophagus due to inflammation and scarring. This narrowing makes swallowing food even more difficult and more likely that food will become impacted, or stuck.
During esophageal dilation, the physician inserts a tube or balloon into the narrowest part of the esophagus and stretches the tissue to make the esophagus wider. This allows for easier swallowing and eating.
Research shows that individuals with eosinophilic esophagitis are at an increased risk of experiencing anxiety and depression.Meeting with a psychologist or a therapist to discuss worries and learncoping skillsmay be helpful as you undergo treatment for this disease.
Types of Mental Health Therapy
Summary
Eosinophilic esophagitis is a chronic immune disease that causes inflammation and scarring in the esophagus. This damage leads toseveral symptomsincluding difficulty swallowing and heartburn. Treatment usually involves an elimination diet and prescription medications. If other treatments have been unsuccessful, esophageal dilation may be recommended.
A Word From Verywell
Eosinophilic esophagitis is a chronic condition, and there is no known cure. Fortunately, there are ways to manage it with dietary changes and prescription medication. Finding the right treatment regimen often involves trial and error, and the process can feel long and overwhelming. Know that you are not alone, and ask your physician about local support groups or online communities to connect with others who are experiencing the same struggles and frustrations.
Food Substitutes for the Six Food Elimination Diet
Eosinophilic esophagitis can only be diagnosed with an upper endoscopy and esophageal biopsy. Some common symptoms to look for include:Difficulty swallowing, known asdysphagiaPainful swallowingFeeling as though food is getting “stuck” in the throatVomiting or regurgitation of foodChest pain or heartburnDifficulty eating hard or dense foodsLearn MoreHow Eosinophilic Esophagitis Is Diagnosed
Eosinophilic esophagitis can only be diagnosed with an upper endoscopy and esophageal biopsy. Some common symptoms to look for include:Difficulty swallowing, known asdysphagiaPainful swallowingFeeling as though food is getting “stuck” in the throatVomiting or regurgitation of foodChest pain or heartburnDifficulty eating hard or dense foods
Eosinophilic esophagitis can only be diagnosed with an upper endoscopy and esophageal biopsy. Some common symptoms to look for include:
Learn MoreHow Eosinophilic Esophagitis Is Diagnosed
Esophageal dilation is a surgical procedure that stretches out the esophagus. In eosinophilic esophagitis, the esophagus may become narrower due to inflammation and scarring. During esophageal dilation, the surgeon inserts a tube or balloon into the narrowest part of the esophagus and stretches the tissue to make the esophagus wider.Learn MoreHow Esophageal Dilation Helps Difficulty Swallowing
Esophageal dilation is a surgical procedure that stretches out the esophagus. In eosinophilic esophagitis, the esophagus may become narrower due to inflammation and scarring. During esophageal dilation, the surgeon inserts a tube or balloon into the narrowest part of the esophagus and stretches the tissue to make the esophagus wider.
Learn MoreHow Esophageal Dilation Helps Difficulty Swallowing
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Eosinophilic esophagitis: Symptoms, diagnosis & treatment.Gonsalves NP, Aceves SS.Diagnosis and treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 145(1):1-7. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2019.11.011National Organization for Rare Disorders.Eosinophilic esophagitis.American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders.EoE.Taft TH, Guadagnoli L, Edlynn E.Anxiety and depression in eosinophilic esophagitis: A scoping review and recommendations for future research.J Asthma Allergy. 12:389-399. doi:10.2147/JAA.S193045
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Eosinophilic esophagitis: Symptoms, diagnosis & treatment.Gonsalves NP, Aceves SS.Diagnosis and treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 145(1):1-7. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2019.11.011National Organization for Rare Disorders.Eosinophilic esophagitis.American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders.EoE.Taft TH, Guadagnoli L, Edlynn E.Anxiety and depression in eosinophilic esophagitis: A scoping review and recommendations for future research.J Asthma Allergy. 12:389-399. doi:10.2147/JAA.S193045
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Eosinophilic esophagitis: Symptoms, diagnosis & treatment.Gonsalves NP, Aceves SS.Diagnosis and treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 145(1):1-7. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2019.11.011National Organization for Rare Disorders.Eosinophilic esophagitis.American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders.EoE.Taft TH, Guadagnoli L, Edlynn E.Anxiety and depression in eosinophilic esophagitis: A scoping review and recommendations for future research.J Asthma Allergy. 12:389-399. doi:10.2147/JAA.S193045
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Eosinophilic esophagitis: Symptoms, diagnosis & treatment.
Gonsalves NP, Aceves SS.Diagnosis and treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 145(1):1-7. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2019.11.011
National Organization for Rare Disorders.Eosinophilic esophagitis.
American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders.EoE.
Taft TH, Guadagnoli L, Edlynn E.Anxiety and depression in eosinophilic esophagitis: A scoping review and recommendations for future research.J Asthma Allergy. 12:389-399. doi:10.2147/JAA.S193045
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