Pediatric Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders (EGID)

What are pediatric eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders?

Pediatric eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders (EGID) are a group of conditions in which eosinophils (white blood cells that play a role in allergic reactions) accumulate in the stomach, esophagus, and/or colon. There are three forms of EGID: eosinophilic colitis, eosinophilic esophagitis, and eosinophilic gastroenteritis. 

What are the symptoms of pediatric eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders?

The symptoms of these conditions include:

• Chest and abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Oral aversion
• Issues with feeding
• Slow growth
• Difficulty swallowing
• Choking or gagging
• Bloating
• Food impaction in the esophagus

What causes pediatric eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders?

These disorders occur when one has an allergic disorder (asthma, eczema, etc.) that triggers the immune system to produce large amounts of eosinophils. 

How is pediatric eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders diagnosed?

First, doctor’s will look through medical history and perform a physical examination. This will be followed by tests, including allergy tests, blood tests, colonoscopies, EGDs, and flexible sigmoidoscopies. 

What are the treatments for pediatric eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders?

Treatment focuses on removing allergic triggers. This means eating a special diet, which could mean eliminating foods that are known to cause allergic reactions, a specific food that was discovered to cause a reaction, or all solid food. 

Doctors will also try to reduce inflammation, which can be done through proton pump inhibitors, esophageal dilatation, and swallowed topical steroids. 

Where can I find out more about pediatric eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders?

• • Children’s Health
  • NIH
  • Boston Children’s Hospital