الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract Eosinophilic esophagitis was thought to be a variant of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) but now it is believed to be a new disease with a rapid increasing incidence. It was first described in 1977. It has a worldwide distribution, but from Africa only one report from Egypt was published. Eosinophilic esophagitis affects all age groups, but it is more common in males than females with peak incidence in young adults 20-40 years. The disease is thought to be one of hypersensitivity disorders with food triggers as milk, eggs, beef and shellfish and also environmental allergens as pollen play a role in the pathogenesis. Presenting symptoms usually differ according to the affected age. Dysphagia and food impaction are the common symptoms among the adult patients, while failure to thrive and food refusal occur more frequently among children. Nearly a half of the patients usually presents with other allergic disorders as asthma and allergic rhinitis. Different methods are used for the diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis, for example allergic evalution, pH monitoring, barium esophogogram and endoscopic ultrasound but the only sure method for diagnosis is upper GI endoscopy and biopsy with the presence of >15-20 eosinophil/HPF. Treatment of EE does not provide permenant cure but only symptoms relief and prevent complications.Dietary management is safe but compliance is difficult. |