Eosinophilic esophagitis

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Eosinophilic esophagitis is an inflammatory disorder in which the wall of the esophagus becomes filled with large numbers of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell.

This disorder may be caused by food allergies.
Children may refuse to eat and have chest pain, and adults may have food lodged in their esophagus and difficulty swallowing.
The diagnosis is based on the results of an endoscopy and biopsy, sometimes along with x-rays and blood tests.
Treatment includes corticosteroids, changes in diet, and sometimes dilation of the esophagus.

The esophagus is the hollow tube that leads from the throat (pharynx) to the stomach. (See also Overview of the Esophagus.)
Eosinophilic esophagitis can begin at any time between infancy and young adulthood. It occasionally occurs in older adults and is more common among males.
Eosinophils are a type of