Pediatric Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disease (EGID) Care

Comprehensive EGID care for children

Eosinophilic diseases develop when high levels of eosinophils (a type of white blood cell) build up in one or multiple parts of the digestive system, causing swallowing and eating problems.

We treat all types of EGIDs, including in the:

• Esophagus (eosinophilic esophagitis)

• Stomach and small intestine (eosinophilic gastritis, eosinophilic gastroenteritis and eosinophilic enteritis)

• Large intestine (eosinophilic colitis)

Our EGID program offers the combined experience of several pediatric specialists. Your child's care team may include:

• Gastroenterologists

• Allergists

• Dietitians

• Social workers

Eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease testing

Your first visit with us lasts about two hours. We review your child's medical history and perform a physical exam. We may recommend testing to help us confirm a diagnosis and identify which foods may be triggering their symptoms. Tests may include:

• Complete blood count

• Skin prick or patch test

• Endoscopy

Transnasal endoscopy

Transnasal endoscopy is an anesthesia-free alternative to traditional endoscopy that's used to diagnose EoE. Before the procedure, we numb the inside of your child's nose and mouth with a topical anesthetic to keep them comfortable.

We gently insert a thin, flexible camera through the nose to examine your child's esophagus, stomach and small intestine. Your child may use our virtual reality (VR) goggles during the endoscopy as a helpful distraction.

EGID treatments

We work with you to find the right therapies, helping your child manage symptoms and feel their best. Depending on their diagnosis and symptoms, we may recommend a combination of several therapies, including:

• Dietary changes

• Oral medications

• Biologics (injectable medications)

Follow-up and monitoring

We provide ongoing care and follow-up visits to monitor eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease. We track your child's symptoms, growth and response to treatment over time.

If your child is trying a new medication or has a symptom flare-up, we may recommend an endoscopy or other testing to help us adjust their care plan.

Esophageal string test for EoE

We may use an esophageal string test to monitor older children with EoE. The in-office test doesn't require anesthesia or recovery time.

Here's what to expect during an esophageal string test:

1. Your child swallows a small capsule attached to a string. The other end of the string is taped to their cheek or finger.

2. The capsule dissolves, while the string absorbs esophageal secretions for one hour.

3. Your child's provider gently pulls the string out through the mouth.

4. The string is sent to the lab, where we measure the absorbed secretions to monitor for inflammation in the esophagus.

Results from the esophageal string test help us tailor your child's treatment plan and measure changes in EoE.