Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Diseases

Eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases (EGIDs) are a group of rare gastrointestinal (GI) diseases. They affect different parts of the digestive tract, from the esophagus to the large intestine.

They can affect your child's quality of life, including how they eat, grow, and develop.

EGIDs develop when eosinophils, white blood cells triggered by allergies, build up in the digestive tract lining causing swelling and discomfort.

Treatment helps manage symptoms, which vary based on where in the GI tract the eosinophils are and how severe the condition is.

What Are EGID Symptoms?

EGID symptoms can include:

• Swallowing problems.
• Heartburn.
• Food getting stuck in the throat.
• Vomiting.
• Stomach pain.
• Diarrhea.
• GI bleeding.
• Weight loss or slow growth.

It's easy to mistake these symptoms for other GI disorders, so it's not uncommon to miss EGIDs.

But your child is in expert hands at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

What EGID Conditions Do You Treat at UPMC Children's Hospital?

Doctors at UPMC's Center for Pediatric Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders diagnose and treat:

• Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). This is the most common EGID, which affects the lining of the esophagus — the tube that connects the throat to the stomach. EoE causes symptoms like vomiting and feeding problems in infants or young children. Older children may have swallowing problems or feel like they have food stuck in their throats.
• Eosinophilic gastritis (EG). EG affects only the stomach. It can cause ongoing stomach pain, vomiting, and feeding problems with poor growth.
• Eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE) affects both the stomach and small intestine. Symptoms are like those of EG.
• Eosinophilic colitis (EC) affects the large intestine. It causes swelling and damage in the colon. Symptoms are belly pain, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and anemia.

Contact the Center for Pediatric Eosinophilic GI Disorders

To learn more or make an appointment with an EGID expert, call 1-412-692-5180.