Eosinophilic Esophagitis Clinic

Contact number | 202-476-3016

Preparing for Your Visit

In our clinic, families will meet with a team consisting of an allergist, gastroenterologist and nutritionist to tailor a plan to help your child face EoE.

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Our multidisciplinary clinic provides a collaborative and comprehensive evaluation for children diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Our team of experts will provide patients and their families with up-to-date information in the areas of clinical and research progress. Our goal is to provide guidance for families to make informed decisions around EoE.

What is Eosinophilic Esophagitis?

Eosinophilic esophagitis is an allergic inflammation of the esophagus. It is a chronic condition that usually results from a food allergy. The condition is more common in children who might have other allergies including food and seasonal allergies, eczema and asthma. The role of genetic predisposition is also being investigated. EoE is more common in children and men. A US study reports the incidence of EoE in children as 1 per 10,000, with several studies supporting a rise in diagnosis of new cases.

Symptoms of EoE vary with age and may be mistaken for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). At times, this may contribute to a delay in making a correct diagnosis.

Infant and toddlers may have symptoms very similar to GERD like vomiting, poor weight gain or abdominal pain.
Children may experience feeding challenges like difficulty advancing to age-appropriate foods or coughing when they are trying to swallow solids and/or liquids.
Older children experience difficulty with swallowing. At times, the esophagus can narrow and cause food impaction, where food becomes stuck. This results in significant pain, spitting of saliva, and is a medical emergency.

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Services

In our clinic, families will meet with a team consisting of an allergist, gastroenterologist and nutritionist. There is also an option to meet with our psychologist. Together, we tailor a plan to help your child face EoE.

Children affected by allergies and complex immunologic disorders benefit from our Allergy and Immunology specialists’ expertise, because our doctors treat children and only children with these conditions. We will evaluate your child for food and environmental allergies using skin prick and blood tests.
Our pediatric Gastroenterology team provides comprehensive, personalized care for infants, children and teenagers. The internationally renowned pediatric specialists at Children’s National have the skills and resources to diagnose, treat and manage digestive disorders in children. When your child meets with the gastroenterologist, we will discuss options around endoscopic and GERD evaluations.
Our registered dietitian has expertise in both eosinophilic GI disorders and food allergies and will assess your child’s overall nutritional status and growth, and screen for any nutritional risks or deficiencies. The dietitian helps plan for nutritional adequacy from foods in the diet by providing counseling on how to read food labels, and on what substitute foods can be incorporated in the diet along with recipe ideas. If food alone cannot meet your child’s nutritional needs, the dietitian will also provide recommendations for additional vitamin/mineral supplementation.
Children diagnosed with EoE and their parents may experience stress and challenges related to EoE symptoms, elimination diets and medication management. They may also experience stress related to the ways EoE affects meals, school and social activities. Our Psychology team talks with patients and their families about their EoE experiences in order to offer support and guidance. Some families also benefit from referral for additional psychology sessions to help them manage EoE challenges.

Contact Us

To make an appointment, please call 202-476-3016.

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Failure to Thrive (Poor Growth)

Deion Gladden successfully treated for environmentally-influenced intestinal issues by Dr. Anil Darbari.

Nineteen years ago, Deion was born prematurely and developed eosinophilic esophagitis and acid reflux, along with failure to thrive. For years, he endured environmentally influenced intestinal issues that he and his family didn't understand until they met Children's National specialists who "never gave up on us."

Deion's Story