EoE is a chronic allergic / autoimmune condition  where your body reacts to typically a food, however can also be environmental, and eosinophils congregate in the throat and can tighten the esophagus to the point food gets stuck. You can be any age when diagnosed, however, often diagnosis is around 30 years old.  There are a wide variety of symptoms and these symptoms are very similar to some other conditions which make diagnosis tricky.  There seems to be an uptick in diagnosis in recent years which is thought to be attributed to a greater awareness of the condition.  Unfortunately, although there are treatment options, there is no known cure at this time.  The focus of this page will be on adult symptoms and treatments as I am not a doctor and have no experience with children and this condition. 

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Causes

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According to Ignite Nutrition's page, causes vary, however, those with asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema, and immune issues are more likely to develop this condition.

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Common Symptoms 

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• Difficulty swallowing

• Heartburn / regurgitation

• Stomach pain

• Chest pain

• Prolonged chewing

• Food impaction

• Needing to drink lots of water to get food down
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Typically people have continuously worsening symptoms that lead to being admitted to a hospital due to food impaction before it is diagnosed.  Though many people describe it is choking, there is no blockage to the airway, the food gets stuck further down in the esophagus.  Despite not being as life threatening, these episodes are extremely scary, especially when one is unaware of the cause.  Once admitted to the hospital, it frequently requires an upper endoscopy to remove the food.  At this time, a biopsy is often preformed to confirm the abnormally high presence of eosinophils.  These eosinophils are white blood cells that congregating in the esophagus in response to a trigger.  This can also be diagnosed via blood sample if endoscopy is not required.  The trigger for the build up for eosinophils can either be  environmental or more commonly food related.

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Common Confusion

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GERD and EoE have almost identical symptoms.  The only real way to know which it is is by taking a biopsy of the esophagus.  Despite having the same symptoms, the treatments for the two conditions are vastly different so it is important to determine which condition it is.

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**This information is a summary from multiple sources.  It is only intended to give a quick description for each of the buckets to get a general idea.  For further information, I suggest going to some of the links I have provided, another similar reputable website, or consult a doctor.  Please see disclaimer in the footer of the page.**