Allergy assessment in children with eosinophilic esophagitis

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is of growing interest for pediatricians and allergists. There is no general agreement about diagnostic and clinical management procedures. The objective of this prospective, observational study was to evaluate the efficacy of a protocol for the etiologic diagnosis and accurate treatment of EoE in the pediatric population.

Starting in 2001, patients aged 0 to 14 years with a diagnosis of EoE were consecutively included in a protocol which included an allergy study. Depending on the results, an avoidance or elemental diet was established. Topical corticosteroids were prescribed to patients who rejected the diet. Clinical, endoscopic, and histological evaluation was performed to assess response. In the case of disease remission, challenge tests were performed to identify the offending food.

Seventeen patients were included. Most of them were male (14/17) and a high percentage (88%) had a history of allergy as well as a history of atopy in parents. Fifteen patients were sensitized to 1 or more foods. With this protocol and the subsequent treatment, 9 out of 17 patients were cured (1 out of 4 with swallowed corticosteroids, 3 out of 3 with an elemental diet, and 5 out of 12 with an avoidance diet). The offending food was identified in 8117 patients. Milk and eggs were the most common foods implicated.

The allergy study was a useful diagnostic tool but it was not sufficient to identify the offending food.An elemental diet should be attempted before food is excluded as the cause of the disease.