For many people food allergies are a miserable experience, for some the experience is compounded by complications of their allergies that can even more severely impact the quality of their life. Eosinophil esophagitis is a disease that is related to other allergy related diseases such as food allergies, hay fever or asthma. This disease is relatively new, and its incidents are on the rise, but not much is known about what causes it yet beyond its connection to allergies.
Eosinophil Esophagitis is an allergic inflammatory disease caused by elevated levels of eosinophils in the esophagus. Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell that helps to fight off infections and as such is a vital part of our immune system. There are many different types of diseases and disorders that can cause high levels of eosinophils and most disorders are defined by the area of the body where the high numbers of eosinophils are present.
Recent studies have shown not only a link between the food allergies and eosinophil esophagitis but have shown that those patients with this disorder that have been tested positive for food allergies have a resolution of eosinophil esophagitis symptoms when the foods they are allergic are avoided.  Common food allergies known to be connected to this disorder are peanuts, shellfish, eggs, wheat and milk.
Diagnosis of eosinophil esophagitis is usually made by biopsy of the esophagus, checking for an over abundance of eosinophils. Once diagnosed, the patient is checked for allergies, if they have not been already, and a trial avoidance of the allergen is performed to see if the it will help with the disorder.
For those severely afflicted by allergies and eosinophil esophagitis, treatment often consists of either drinking or the delivery via a feeding tube of proteins in their most basic form broken down into amino acids in a liquid. Steroids have also been used when avoidance of the allergen is either not possible or not effective.
Symptoms of Eosinophil Esophagitis are reflux that does not respond to conventional treatment, difficulty swallowing, food impaction, nausea and vomiting, poor appetite and difficulty sleeping. While the diagnosis of Eosinophil Esophagitis is complicated and can be difficult to treat it does not appear to come with serious complications or to shorten life in anyway. There is much yet to be learned about this disorder though and a lot of research that needs to be performed to find out how to prevent and treat it.