Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) Treatment for Children and Teens

Medication therapy for EoE

Inhaler management for EoE

Topical corticosteroids, such as fluticasone or budesonide, were originally developed for asthma patients but can also provide relief for children with EoE. Kids and teens can take the steroid as a liquid or from an inhaler. The steroid coats the esophagus, decreasing the number of eosinophils and allowing the esophagus to heal.

Monitoring EoE treatment

Our team uses a procedure called an endoscopy to monitor EoE treatment progress. At Children’s Colorado, we developed the transnasal endoscopy, a new procedure that is more comfortable for patients who need to receive endoscopies more frequently. This method achieves the same results as a normal endoscopy, but it doesn’t include any sedation or anesthesia. A transnasal endoscopy also offers a much shorter recovery time.

What to expect from EoE treatment

EoE is a lifelong condition, which means it requires lifelong treatment. We carefully evaluate treatment methods, weighing the risks and benefits to ensure the best possible quality of life for your child. Our providers are here to help for the long term, both through in-person visits to Children’s Colorado and by coordinating care with your child’s primary provider.

We understand that lifestyle and dietary changes can be challenging for patients and families to manage, which is why our multidisciplinary team includes psychologists, feeding therapists and registered dietitians. These pediatric specialists help support patients and families on an ongoing basis to ensure the lifestyle transition is manageable and as comfortable as possible.

Frequently asked questions about EoE treatment

Receiving a diagnosis for a chronic condition like EoE comes with many questions. We’ve answered several of the most common questions we receive here.

How will EoE treatment impact my family and my other children?

With successful EoE treatment, both your child and your entire family’s quality of life should improve greatly. Your child will feel much better, and you may see improvements in their mood and sleep patterns, as well as increased participation in activities. Mealtimes often become less stressful after we help guide you on how to manage your child’s new diet.

Our registered dietitians will work with your family to design an EoE diet and plan that maximizes nutrition for your child while working to accommodate the other needs of your family. Ask your dietitian for techniques that will make mealtimes easier for your child with EoE and their siblings.

How can a psychologist help with my child’s EoE treatment?

We recognize EoE is stressful for your child and your family. Not only does the condition require frequent hospital visits and changes to what your family eats, it can also make your child feel different from other children. Identifying and managing the stress associated with chronic medical illness is an important area that is often overlooked. But our multidisciplinary care team includes a psychologist so that they can help your family find healthy ways to cope with living with EoE.

What is the difference between a registered dietitian and a feeding/swallowing specialist?

Registered dietitians are nutritional experts who ensure a child is receiving the nutrients they need for normal growth and development. Involving a registered dietitian is especially important if your child is on an elimination diet. Learn more food intolerance and elimination diet tips.

Feeding specialists observe and correct any eating or feeding challenges that patients may experience. They work to make eating as easy and comfortable as possible for patients, and they provide additional therapy when necessary.

How often will my child need to have an endoscopy for EoE?

An endoscopy helps us make the initial EoE diagnosis, and we need a follow-up endoscopy to check how your child is responding to treatment. After that, frequency of endoscopies differs from patient to patient. Your child may require more frequent endoscopies if they are not responding well to treatment. At Children’s Colorado, child life specialists are available to help put your child at ease, no matter the type of procedure.

Can I stop my child’s EoE treatment after their symptoms improve?

No. Though medication and an elimination diet help improve EoE symptoms, they are not a cure. If you stop medication treatment or you add food triggers back into your child’s diet, EoE symptoms will likely return.

Are steroids required to treat EoE?

Although steroids are a highly effective treatment method for many children with EoE, they are not always required. We strive to recommend the treatment methods we feel will successfully treat your child’s esophageal inflammation and give them the best quality of life. Your doctor will explain the benefits and risks of each method to help you make an informed treatment decision.

What if I don’t want my child to take medication for EoE?

Elimination diets are still an effective treatment method for EoE, even without medication.

What are the side effects of using topical corticosteroids for EoE long term?

Most children and teens tolerate swallowed topical steroids well and experience much needed relief from EoE symptoms and esophageal inflammation. However, it’s important to monitor them for increases in blood pressure, weight gain, fractures and bruising as well as possible vision problems, behavioral problems or slowed growth.

In some cases, inhaled topical steroids may interfere with the body’s ability to produce natural steroids. If this occurs, we’ll need to increase the topical steroid dosage to ensure your child is maintaining an appropriate level. For a small number of children, topical corticosteroids may cause yeast infections in the mouth and throat, which we can treat with oral antifungal medications.

What are the side effects of using proton pump inhibitors for EoE long term?

Although rare, several studies of the long-term side effects of proton pump inhibitors have loosely linked the medication with diseases that can affect the brain, bones, kidneys, lungs and gastrointestinal tract. At Children's Colorado, your care team recommends the treatment options they feel are best and safest for your child, along with information about the benefits and risks of each, so you can make the best possible choices for your child.

If I bring my child to Children’s Colorado for EoE treatment, will I see the same providers for my follow-up visits?

Yes. We strive to make your visits as comfortable as possible. This includes scheduling appointments with the same specialists throughout your child’s treatment, whenever possible.

Contact us

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