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Summary
Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic disorder of the digestive system in which large numbers of a particular type of white blood cell called eosinophils are present in the esophagus. The esophagus is the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. Eosinophils are part of the immune system and play a role in immune regulation and fighting certain infection, and their accumulation is a hallmark of allergic diseases. This condition is characterized by vomiting, stomach or chest pain, failure to thrive (particularly in children), difficulty swallowing and food getting stuck in the throat.
Introduction
Previously, EoE was considered to be a rare disorder, which is a conditon that affects fewer than 200,000 Americans. A recent study found that the prevalence of EoE was 142.5/100,000 and estimated 472,380 total cases in U.S, so EoE is no longer considered rare in the U.S. EoE is not considered a rare condition in Europe.
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