Children's Hospital Colorado
Doctor high-fiving her patient.
Call

720-777-7457

Living with an eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease (EGID) can be difficult, especially for kids. Rest assured that the experts at Children’s Hospital Colorado’s nationally-ranked Digestive Health Institute have the knowledge, experience and compassion to treat infants, children and teens living with these rare and lifelong conditions.

What are EGIDs?

As a leader in the diagnosis, treatment and research of pediatric EGIDs, our Gastrointestinal Eosinophilic Diseases Program proudly provides comprehensive care for patients from across the U.S. and around the world.

EGIDs are a group of diseases characterized by a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms including swallowing problems, vomiting, acid-reflux-like symptoms, food impaction (meaning food gets stuck in the tract), abdominal pain, diarrhea, slow growth and bleeding. Eosinophils (pronounced “e-o-sin-o-fils”) are a type of white blood cell often associated with allergies, including irritation from certain foods. When a child has an EGID, it means that eosinophils are building up in the lining of their digestive system, which can cause inflammation (swelling) and many uncomfortable symptoms. EGIDs are becoming more common, but doctors do not fully understand why.

EGIDs include a number of conditions. The type depends on where in the gastrointestinal tract the disease is centered. EGIDs include:

  • Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), which primarily affects the esophagus, and is the most common EGID
  • Eosinophilic gastritis (EG), which primarily affects the stomach
  • Eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE), which affects both the stomach and the small intestine
  • Eosinophilic colitis (EC), which affects the large intestine

The pediatric gastroenterology team at Children’s Colorado includes experts in this field who have been treating and researching EGIDs in children for more than 25 years.

EGID services for kids

Our goal is to improve the quality of life for patients and families affected by EGIDs. We offer:

  • Complete evaluation for both kids who have been diagnosed and those with a suspected EGID
  • Diagnostic testing designed for kids, including blood work, endoscopy, allergy testing and imaging
  • Education and support for the patient and family
  • Follow-up care via phone, in-person appointments and, in some circumstances, telemedicine
  • Assistance coordinating appointments for families traveling out of state to our hospital in Aurora, Colorado
  • Kid- and teen-friendly-care

EGID treatment for children and teens

The type of treatment we recommend varies on the type of EGID and its severity. Children’s Colorado offers specialized, comprehensive treatment for EGIDs including medications and recommendations and support for food elimination diets. If needed, we also provide medical procedures like interventional endoscopy and dilation.

Because EGIDs are a chronic (long-lasting) condition, it may take time to find the right treatment for your child. We work closely with families to determine the best options for medication and dietary changes, depending on the child’s needs and the family’s preferences. We consider the family to be the most important member of a child’s care team and involve you in all decisions regarding your child’s care.

Watch the video below to see how we helped Kylah and her family find the right treatment plan. Learn more about our approach to EoE treatment

Why choose Children’s Colorado to treat EGIDs in kids?

We offer the most advanced technology and treatments available and a caring and supportive environment to help kids living with EGIDs. Additionally, our Program is one of the few multidisciplinary programs in the entire country. Multidisciplinary care means that a team of experts from multiple medical specialties work together to address the full scope of your child’s health – from allergies to mental health to nutrition and beyond. Program coordinators are also available to ensure that your child’s visit is thorough and individualized.

Our pediatric specialists have advanced training and experience both in their field and in caring for kids. Having a team of these experts gives your child the best and most complete care possible. Our multidisciplinary EGID team includes:

  • Board-certified pediatric gastroenterologists who specialize in EGIDs
  • Board-certified pediatric allergists who specialize in EGIDs
  • Occupational and speech therapists who specialize in feeding problems associated with EGIDs
  • Psychologists who support patients throughout diagnosis, treatment and lifestyle changes for these conditions
  • Registered dietitians who help families ensure their children are getting enough nutrients, even on a restricted diet
  • Nurses with expertise in caring for children and families with EGIDs
  • Child life specialists who can help your child feel more comfortable in the hospital setting and support them throughout procedures

Learn more about the importance of multidisciplinary care for kids and how we provide time-saving, convenient care in one visit through our Multidisciplinary Clinic.

Improving care for kids with EGIDs

Thanks to our new technique, Haylie’s doctors can monitor her EoE by performing a specialized endoscopy in less time and without anesthesia.

Read about the transnasal endoscopy

Pediatric EGID research and innovation

As an academic research institution, Children’s Colorado conducts research studies and promotes innovative techniques and technologies to improve the future for all kids with EGIDs. This means our patients have access to the very best care the medical field has to offer and treatments that may not be available elsewhere.

Innovative and advanced procedures for EGIDs

Our Gastrointestinal Eosinophilic Disease Program has pioneered additional tests and procedures to improve the quality of life for kids living with EGIDs. Tests invented here include:

  • The transnasal endoscopy, a procedure that allows patients to receive an endoscopy through the nose and without sedation or anesthesia
  • The esophageal string test, a non-invasive test that allows doctors to measure eosinophil counts to both diagnose and monitor EoE

We have also pioneered the use of the endoluminal functional lumen probe (EndoFLIP) to study esophageal function in kids with EoE.

Learn more about digestive health research at Children’s Colorado.

Contact

We accept referrals from across the nation. To get in touch, please call 720-777-7457.

Compassionate care, wherever you are

We’re here when you need us. Telehealth appointments are available across every specialty, so you can get the high-quality care we’ve always offered from the comfort, privacy and convenience of home.

See if telehealth is right for you

 

Get to know our pediatric experts.

Fred (Dan) Atkins, MD

Fred (Dan) Atkins, MD

Allergy & Immunology, Pediatrics

Glenn Furuta, MD

Glenn Furuta, MD

Gastroenterology - Pediatric

Calies Menard-Katcher, MD

Calies Menard-Katcher, MD

Gastroenterology - Pediatric

Nathalie Nguyen, MD

Nathalie Nguyen, MD

Gastroenterology - Pediatric, Pediatrics